Indian Railways Announces Puja Special Trains Between Patna, Delhi and Mumbai
Rajendra Nagar Terminal–New Delhi Tri-Weekly Special to Operate for Five Trips from November 11; One-Way Lucknow–Mumbai Special Scheduled for November 10
To facilitate passenger movement and clear the additional rush during the ongoing festive season, Indian Railways has announced additional Puja Festival Special train services on important routes connecting Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and Maharashtra. The special trains are intended to provide passengers with additional travel options and improve connectivity between major cities during the high-demand festive period.
The announced services include a tri-weekly AC special train between Rajendra Nagar Terminal in Patna and New Delhi, along with a one-way reserved festival special train connecting Lucknow with Lokmanya Tilak Terminus in Mumbai.
The introduction of these services is expected to benefit passengers travelling between Bihar and the national capital as well as those heading towards major destinations in Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra.
Rajendra Nagar Terminal–New Delhi Tri-Weekly Puja Special
Indian Railways will operate Train No. 02309/02310 between Rajendra Nagar Terminal and New Delhi as a tri-weekly Puja Special service. The train will operate for five trips in each direction between November 11 and November 21, 2026.
Train No. 02309 will run from Rajendra Nagar Terminal to New Delhi on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. The first service will depart on November 11, 2026, while the scheduled operating period will continue until November 20, with a total of five trips.
In the return direction, Train No. 02310 will operate from New Delhi to Rajendra Nagar Terminal on Thursdays, Saturdays and Mondays. The service will commence on November 12 and continue until November 21, 2026, completing five trips.
The train will have an AC coach composition, providing an additional option for passengers seeking air-conditioned accommodation during the festive travel period.
Timings and Stoppages
Train No. 02309 will depart from Rajendra Nagar Terminal at 8:10 PM and reach New Delhi at 3:00 PM the following day.
During its journey towards the national capital, the train will stop at several important stations, including Patna Junction, Danapur, Ara, Buxar, Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Junction, Prayagraj Junction and Govindpuri.
The scheduled timings are as follows:
| Station | Arrival | Departure |
|---|---|---|
| Rajendra Nagar Terminal | — | 20:10 |
| Patna Junction | 20:23 | 20:30 |
| Danapur | 20:45 | 20:47 |
| Ara | 21:15 | 21:17 |
| Buxar | 22:00 | 22:02 |
| Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Jn. | 23:30 | 23:40 |
| Prayagraj Junction | 03:45 | 03:50 |
| Govindpuri | 06:45 | 06:50 |
| New Delhi | 15:00 | — |
In the return direction, Train No. 02310 will depart from New Delhi at 7:00 PM and arrive at Rajendra Nagar Terminal at 2:00 PM the following day.
The return service will halt at Govindpuri, Prayagraj Junction, Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Junction, Buxar, Ara, Danapur and Patna Junction.
The scheduled timings for the return journey are:
| Station | Arrival | Departure |
|---|---|---|
| New Delhi | — | 19:00 |
| Govindpuri | 01:55 | 02:00 |
| Prayagraj Junction | 05:00 | 05:05 |
| Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Jn. | 10:10 | 10:20 |
| Buxar | 11:48 | 11:50 |
| Ara | 12:33 | 12:35 |
| Danapur | 13:05 | 13:07 |
| Patna Junction | 13:23 | 13:30 |
| Rajendra Nagar Terminal | 14:00 | — |
The service will provide additional connectivity between Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi, particularly benefiting passengers travelling from the Patna region towards the national capital.
Lucknow–Mumbai One-Way Reserved Festival Special
In another arrangement to accommodate festive-season passenger demand, Railways will operate Train No. 04258 as a one-way reserved festival special from Lucknow to Lokmanya Tilak Terminus in Mumbai.
The train is scheduled to operate on November 10, 2026. It will depart from Lucknow at 9:45 PM and travel through several important stations across Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra before reaching Lokmanya Tilak Terminus.
The train will have AC, Sleeper and General class accommodation, offering passengers different travel options.
Route, Timings and Stoppages
Train No. 04258 will cover an extensive route, connecting Lucknow with Mumbai through major railway junctions, including Kanpur Central, Jhansi, Bina, Bhopal, Itarsi, Khandwa, Bhusaval, Manmad, Nashik Road, Igatpuri, Kalyan and Thane.
Its scheduled timings are as follows:
| Station | Arrival | Departure |
|---|---|---|
| Lucknow | — | 21:45 |
| Unnao Junction | 22:53 | 22:55 |
| Kanpur Central | 23:58 | 00:03 |
| Orai | 02:43 | 02:45 |
| Virangana Lakshmibai Jhansi Jn. | 05:20 | 05:25 |
| Bina Junction | 08:00 | 08:05 |
| Bhopal Junction | 10:15 | 10:25 |
| Itarsi Junction | 11:55 | 12:00 |
| Khandwa Junction | 15:05 | 15:10 |
| Bhusaval Junction | 17:20 | 17:25 |
| Manmad Junction | 20:50 | 20:55 |
| Nashik Road | 22:22 | 22:25 |
| Igatpuri | 01:15 | 01:20 |
| Kalyan Junction | 02:43 | 02:45 |
| Thane | 03:00 | 03:03 |
| Lokmanya Tilak Terminus | 03:35 | — |
The one-way service is expected to provide additional capacity for passengers travelling from Lucknow and adjoining regions towards Mumbai and other destinations along the route.
Passengers Advised to Check Train Information
Indian Railways has advised passengers to check the latest information regarding train operations, schedules and availability before commencing their journeys.
Passengers can obtain updated information through the National Train Enquiry System (NTES) or by calling the railway enquiry helpline 139.
The operation of these additional Puja Festival Special trains is part of the Railways’ efforts to manage increased passenger demand during the festive season and provide more convenient travel options on busy intercity and long-distance routes.
