Patna: Northern Railway has proposed a Vande Bharat Special between New Delhi and Patna for the Diwali and Chhath travel season. The proposal has been sent to the Railway Board and is awaiting approval.
The proposed train would cover around 994 km in approximately 13 hours. Its operation, schedule and ticket booking will be confirmed only after the Railway Board approves the proposal and the Railways issues an official notification.
Six Stops Proposed
The proposed New Delhi-Patna Vande Bharat Special is expected to stop at six stations:
- Aligarh
- Kanpur Central
- Prayagraj
- Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Junction
- Buxar
- Ara
The service is intended to provide an additional travel option on the busy Delhi-Patna route during the festive season.
First Pair Proposed From October 21
The first pair of trains, numbered 02252/02251, has been proposed for operation between October 21 and November 26.
Under the proposal, the New Delhi-Patna service would operate on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays, while the return service from Patna would operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. A total of 16 trips have been proposed for this pair.
Second Pair Also Under Consideration
Northern Railway has also proposed a second pair, numbered 02253/02254.
The proposed schedule includes services from Patna on Saturdays, Mondays and Wednesdays, while the corresponding New Delhi services are proposed for Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays during the specified festive-season period.
Proposed Timetable
According to the proposed schedule, the train would leave New Delhi at 8:35am and is expected to reach Prayagraj at 2:45pm, before arriving in Patna at around 9:30pm.
On the return journey, the proposed train would depart Patna at 10am, reach Prayagraj at around 3:35pm and arrive in New Delhi at approximately 11:30pm.
These timings remain subject to approval and could change before the final schedule is announced.
Proposed Fare For Chair Car And Executive Class
The proposed Vande Bharat Special would have AC Chair Car and Executive Chair Car coaches.
The AC Chair Car fare, including meals, has been proposed at approximately Rs 2,575 to Rs 2,600 for the New Delhi-Patna journey. The proposed Executive Chair Car fare is around Rs 4,650 to Rs 4,680.
The final fares will be decided after approval and the official announcement by the Railways.
No Confirmation Of Vande Bharat Sleeper
Claims about a New Delhi-Patna Vande Bharat Sleeper service have also circulated on social media. However, there has been no official confirmation of such a service from the Railways.
The proposal currently under consideration is for a Vande Bharat Special with Chair Car and Executive Chair Car coaches, rather than a sleeper train.
IRCTC Booking Yet To Open
According to CPRO Himanshu Shekhar Upadhyay, reservation facilities on IRCTC will begin after the Railway Board approves the proposal.
Passengers will therefore have to wait for the official railway notification before booking tickets or relying on the proposed timetable and fares.
Additional Option For Festive Travel
The Delhi-Patna rail corridor typically faces increased passenger demand during Diwali and Chhath as large numbers of people travel to Bihar.
If approved, the proposed Vande Bharat Special could provide an additional option for passengers travelling between Delhi and Patna during the festive period.
