Patna: Passengers travelling from Delhi to Bihar during Diwali and Chhath may get an additional high-speed travel option, with Northern Railway proposing special Vande Bharat services between New Delhi and Patna to handle the expected festive rush.
The proposal has been sent to the Railway Board for approval. The train is expected to cover the approximately 994-km distance in around 13 hours.
However, the service has not yet received final approval, and an official announcement regarding its operation and ticket booking is still awaited.
Vande Bharat Special to Have Six Proposed Stops
According to the proposal, the New Delhi-Patna Vande Bharat Special would halt at:
- Aligarh
- Kanpur Central
- Prayagraj
- Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Junction
- Buxar
- Ara
The proposed route is expected to provide a faster travel option for passengers heading to Bihar during the peak festive season.
Two Train Pairs Proposed
The first proposed service is train pair 02252/02251.
Under the proposal, the New Delhi-Patna service would operate from October 21 to November 25 on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. The return service from Patna would operate from October 22 to November 26 on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays.
A second service, train pair 02253/02254, has also been proposed.
Under this schedule, the Patna service would operate from October 24 to November 28 on Saturdays, Mondays and Wednesdays, while the New Delhi service would operate from October 22 to November 26 on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Together, the two services would account for 16 proposed trips.
New Delhi Departure at 8:35 AM
As per the proposed timetable, the train would depart from New Delhi at 8:35 AM and reach Prayagraj at around 2:45 PM.
The train is expected to reach Patna at around 9:30 PM.
In the return direction, the proposed train would leave Patna at 10:00 AM, reach Prayagraj at around 3:35 PM and arrive in New Delhi at approximately 11:30 PM.
AC Chair Car and Executive Chair Car Proposed
The proposed Vande Bharat Special would have AC Chair Car and Executive Chair Car accommodation.
The proposed fare for the AC Chair Car, including meals, is around Rs 2,575 to Rs 2,600, while the Executive Chair Car fare is expected to be around Rs 4,650 to Rs 4,680.
These fares are only part of the proposal and may change. The final fare will be known only after approval and an official announcement by the Railways.
No Official Vande Bharat Sleeper Schedule Yet
The proposed train should not be confused with reports circulating on social media about a New Delhi-Patna Vande Bharat Sleeper service.
There have been claims about a possible trial and operation from October 2, but the Railways has not officially confirmed any such schedule so far.
The current proposal concerns a Vande Bharat Special with Chair Car and Executive Chair Car coaches.
Booking to Begin After Railway Board Approval
According to railway officials, reservation through IRCTC will begin only after the Railway Board gives the proposal the go-ahead.
Passengers planning their Diwali and Chhath travel should therefore wait for the official announcement before making travel plans based on the proposed service.
If approved, the special Vande Bharat trains could provide an additional travel option between Delhi and Patna during one of the busiest railway travel periods of the year
