Patna: From January 1, the Namo Bharat Rapid Rail, India’s fastest service between Patna and Jaynagar, will operate under a revised schedule and at a reduced speed, affecting passengers along the route.
Launched in April 2025 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Namo Bharat Rapid Rail has been a significant upgrade for travel between Patna and the Mithilanchal region, including stations such as Samastipur, Darbhanga, Madhubani, and Jaynagar. The train, running at a peak speed of 130 km/h, was celebrated for cutting travel times while providing modern amenities, including air-conditioned coaches and non-reservation travel.
According to the National Train Enquiry System (NTES), train number 94804 from Patna to Jaynagar will depart at 5:55 pm from January 1, ten minutes earlier than its current 6:05 pm departure, but will continue to arrive in Jaynagar at 11:45 pm. Conversely, the 94803 service from Jaynagar will continue to depart at 5 am but will reach Patna at 10:40 am, ten minutes later than previously. At intermediate stations including Samastipur, Barauni, Mokama, and Barh, the train will now arrive 10 to 15 minutes earlier than before.
The changes coincide with a minor fare increase implemented on December 26. For instance, the ticket from Patna to Mokama, approximately 100 km, has risen from Rs 115 to Rs 120. While the service remains popular despite higher fares, passengers had hoped that journey times would decrease further in the new year. Instead, the revised schedule has slightly lengthened travel times on some legs of the route.
