Patna: Passengers travelling from Bihar’s Seemanchal region are set to receive significant relief as several major long-distance trains — including the Dibrugarh-New Delhi Rajdhani Express — will temporarily operate via Purnia Junction beginning June 7.
Railway officials said the revised arrangement would allow passengers from Purnia, Araria, Kishanganj and nearby districts to board trains to destinations such as Delhi and Kamakhya directly from Purnia, reducing dependence on Katihar Junction.
Route Diversions Due to Doubling Work
According to railway sources, the temporary diversion has been necessitated by ongoing railway line doubling and technical work on the Katihar-Barsoi section.
The work is currently underway between:
- Dandkhora and Sunauli
- Maniya and Kuraitha
As a result, several trains will now run through:
- Purnia
- Araria
- Thakurganj
instead of their usual route via Katihar.
Major Trains to Halt at Purnia Junction
Railway officials confirmed that several prominent trains would now halt at Purnia Junction during the diversion period, including:
- Kamakhya Amrit Bharat Express
- Kamakhya Express
- Alipurduar Amrit Bharat Express
- Garib Nawaz Express
- Lohit Express
- Amarnath Express
- Dibrugarh Express
- Bhagat Ki Kothi Express
- Arunachal AC Special
- Dibrugarh Rajdhani Express
- New Delhi Rajdhani Express
Some of these trains will also halt at Thakurganj station.
Passenger Footfall Expected to Rise
Officials said the temporary arrangement was expected to significantly increase passenger movement at Purnia Junction.
Railway authorities noted that:
- Staff workload would likely rise
- Passenger handling requirements would increase
- Railway revenue could also witness growth during the period
Station officials said preparations would begin immediately after formal notification from the Railways.
At present, 17 pairs of regular trains and two pairs of special trains operate on this section.
Summer Special Train Announced
Meanwhile, in response to increased passenger demand during the summer holiday season, the Railways have announced a special train between Anand Vihar Terminal and Muzaffarpur Junction.
According to railway officials:
- Train No. 04028 Anand Vihar–Muzaffarpur Special will operate every Friday from May 29 to June 12
- Train No. 04027 Muzaffarpur–Anand Vihar Special will run every Saturday from May 30 to June 13
The special train will halt at Siwan Junction and will comprise 18 coaches, including:
- AC First Class
- AC 2-tier and AC 3-tier
- Sleeper coaches
- General coaches
- Luggage vans
Railway officials said the temporary diversions and additional summer services were aimed at easing congestion and improving passenger convenience during the ongoing infrastructure works and peak travel season.
