Patna: The Railways has issued two major updates affecting passengers across Bihar, announcing widespread train disruptions on the Samastipur-Darbhanga section while simultaneously launching a special MEMU service for commuters affected by damage to the Vikramshila Setu.
Special Train Introduced After Vikramshila Setu Damage
Rail connectivity has become increasingly crucial after road movement between Bhagalpur and North-Eastern Bihar was severely affected following damage to the Vikramshila Setu over the River Ganga.
In response, the Railways has decided to operate an unreserved special MEMU train — numbered 05573/05574 — between Saraigarh and Deoghar until May 31.
The train will depart Saraigarh daily at 3:05 AM and reach Deoghar at 11:20 AM. On the return journey, it will leave Deoghar at 11:35 AM.
Officials said the service would halt at important stations including Munger, Bhagalpur and Banka, offering relief to traders, students and daily commuters from the Kosi and Seemanchal regions.
Samastipur-Darbhanga Section To Face Major Disruptions
Meanwhile, track doubling and non-interlocking work on the Samastipur–Darbhanga railway section will lead to a traffic block between May 11 and May 14.
As a result, several trains — including the Janaki Express, Patna-Jaynagar Intercity and Arrah-Jaynagar Intercity — along with multiple passenger services, have been cancelled on different dates.
The Jaynagar-Arrah Intercity and some passenger trains will also remain cancelled on May 15.
Passengers have been advised to verify train schedules before travelling.
Several Long-Distance Trains Diverted
Railways officials said the routes of multiple long-distance trains had also been altered.
On May 14, the Bihar Sampark Kranti Express will travel to Delhi via Sitamarhi and Muzaffarpur instead of its regular Samastipur route.
Other trains, including the Amritsar-Jaynagar, Jaynagar-Arrah and Anand Vihar-Jaynagar services, will also be diverted through Sitamarhi and Raxaul.
The Pawan Express is expected to depart Jaynagar with a delay of three hours on May 14, while revised timings have also been announced for the Bhagalpur-Jaynagar Express and the Swatantrata Senani Express.
Several Trains To Be Short-Terminated
The ongoing railway works will also result in short-termination of multiple trains.
The Gangasagar Express and the Howrah-Jaynagar Express will operate only up to Barauni on May 11 and 12.
Similarly:
- Patna-Jaynagar Intercity will terminate at Samastipur
- Jogbani-Danapur Express will run only up to Darbhanga
- Ahmedabad-Darbhanga Express will terminate at Muzaffarpur
The disruptions are expected to significantly affect passengers travelling across North Bihar over the coming days.
