Patna: Train services across Bihar are set to be affected for more than two weeks as East Central Railway (ECR) undertakes non-interlocking (NI) work on the new Mokama–Simaria double-line rail bridge.
According to the Railway administration, train operations on the route will be impacted between September 19 and October 4, with the non-interlocking work scheduled to begin on September 21.
To minimise disruption, the Railways has announced route diversions for hundreds of passenger trains, including several long-distance express services, Vande Bharat trains, Garib Rath services and MEMU trains.
Diversions Announced Across Multiple Dates
Saraswati Chandra, Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) of East Central Railway, Hajipur, said trains would continue operating through alternative routes during the engineering work.
Among the prominent trains affected are:
- Poorva Express
- Brahmaputra Mail
- Vibhuti Express
- Garib Rath Express
- Vande Bharat Express
- Amritsar–Howrah Mail
- Bagmati Express
- Akal Takht Express
- Capital Express
- Maurya Express
- Mithila Express
- Purvanchal Express
- Antyodaya Express
- Several MEMU and passenger services
Alternative Routes To Be Used
Depending on the date of travel, trains will be diverted via different corridors, including:
- Kiul – Sheikhpura – Bihar Sharif – Bakhtiyarpur
- Danapur – Patliputra – Hajipur – Shahpur Patori
- Grand Chord – Gaya
- Barauni – Shahpur Patori
- Muzaffarpur – Samastipur
- Munger route
- Malda Town – Katihar – Barauni
The diversions will vary from September 19 through October 4, with different sets of trains affected on different dates.
Vande Bharat And Garib Rath Among Key Trains Affected
Several premium services will also operate on diverted routes during the period.
These include:
- Patna–New Jalpaiguri Vande Bharat Express
- Bhagalpur–Anand Vihar Garib Rath Express
- Anand Vihar–Bhagalpur Garib Rath Express
- Patna–Jaynagar Vande Bharat
- Namo Bharat Rapid Rail services between Patna and Jaynagar
Other major express trains connecting Bihar with Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Guwahati, Kamakhya, Raxaul, Surat, Bhagalpur and Amritsar will also witness route changes on selected dates.
Passengers Advised To Check Train Status
The Railway administration has urged passengers to verify the latest running status and revised route of their trains before commencing their journey.
Officials said the diversions are essential to facilitate the non-interlocking work required for commissioning the new infrastructure on the Mokama–Simaria rail bridge, which is expected to strengthen rail connectivity across the region once completed.
