Patna: A new weekly express train connecting Anand Vihar and Purulia has been introduced by Indian Railways, in a move expected to ease travel for passengers across Bihar and Jharkhand.
The Anand Vihar–Purulia Weekly Express will provide a direct rail link between Delhi and eastern regions that have long relied on indirect or overcrowded routes. The service is likely to benefit a wide range of travellers, including students, migrant workers and business passengers commuting between the capital and smaller towns.
Residents in Bihar’s Shahabad and Magadh regions are expected to see particular gains. Stations such as Bhabhua Road, Sasaram and Dehri-on-Sone will now have more direct access to Delhi, potentially reducing travel time and improving journey reliability.
According to railway officials, the train will depart Anand Vihar at 5:00am and reach Purulia at 10:40pm the same day. Along the route, it will halt at key stations including Moradabad, Bareilly, Lucknow, Ayodhya, Varanasi, Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Junction, Garhwa Road, Daltonganj, Ranchi and Muri.
On the return journey, the train will leave Purulia at 5:00pm and arrive at Anand Vihar at 11:10pm the following night. The service will initially operate once a week, with train number 14022 departing Delhi on Thursdays and train number 14021 leaving Purulia on Fridays.
Railways officials said the train will include air-conditioned, sleeper and general coaches, catering to passengers across different income groups. The introduction of the service is expected to ease congestion on existing routes while improving access between the national capital and eastern India.
