Hapa-Naharlagun Special Train to Become Regular Express from September 23
The Indian Railways has decided to regularise the special train service connecting Hapa in Gujarat with Naharlagun in Arunachal Pradesh, providing a direct rail link between western India and the Northeast. The existing Train Nos. 09525/09526 Hapa-Naharlagun-Hapa Special will now operate as Train Nos. 19525/19526 Hapa-Naharlagun-Hapa Express on a regular basis.
The train will run via Ahmedabad, Ujjain, Gwalior, Prayagraj, Varanasi, Chhapra, Hajipur, Barauni and Katihar, connecting several major cities and railway stations across Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Arunachal Pradesh.
According to the railway schedule, Train No. 19525 Hapa-Naharlagun Express will commence its regular service from Hapa on September 23, 2026. It will depart Hapa at 12:40 am every Wednesday and travel towards Naharlagun, with scheduled halts at several important stations along the route.
The train will reach Chhapra at 3:30 pm on Thursday, followed by Hajipur at 5:00 pm, Shahpur Patori at 5:42 pm, Barauni at 7:05 pm, Begusarai at 7:36 pm, Khagaria at 8:29 pm, Naugachia at 9:31 pm and Katihar at 11:10 pm. After covering other stations on the route, the train will reach Naharlagun at 4:00 pm on Friday.
The service is expected to provide passengers with a convenient travel option between Gujarat and Arunachal Pradesh while also improving connectivity for passengers travelling between major destinations in northern and eastern India.
The return service, Train No. 19526 Naharlagun-Hapa Express, will begin regular operation from September 26, 2026. It will depart Naharlagun at 9:40 am every Saturday and travel towards Hapa through the same broad route.
On its return journey, the train will reach Katihar at 1:20 am on Sunday, Naugachia at 2:18 am, Khagaria at 3:20 am, Begusarai at 3:54 am, Barauni at 4:35 am, Shahpur Patori at 5:34 am, Hajipur at 7:00 am and Chhapra at 9:20 am. It will then continue towards Gujarat and is scheduled to reach Hapa at 12:15 am on Tuesday.
The regular service will consist of a total of 21 coaches. The rake will include two LSLRD coaches, 15 sleeper-class coaches, three third AC coaches and one second AC coach. The composition is intended to cater to passengers travelling across different segments and provide a mix of reserved accommodation options.
The regularisation of the Hapa-Naharlagun service is particularly significant for long-distance passengers as the route covers a wide geographical area and links western India with the Northeast. The train will pass through important railway hubs such as Varanasi, Chhapra, Hajipur, Barauni and Katihar, enabling passengers from these regions to access destinations in Gujarat and Arunachal Pradesh.
The service will also strengthen connectivity between the railway networks of the western, central, northern, eastern and northeastern regions. Regular weekly operation is expected to benefit passengers who currently depend on multiple trains for journeys between these distant regions.
With the introduction of Train Nos. 19525/19526 as regular services, passengers will have a scheduled weekly rail option between Hapa and Naharlagun. The service is also expected to support movement for students, workers, tourists and other long-distance travellers.
Railway authorities have taken the decision as part of efforts to improve passenger convenience and strengthen long-distance connectivity. The new regular schedule will come into effect from September 23 for the Hapa-Naharlagun service and September 26 for the Naharlagun-Hapa return journey.
The Hapa-Naharlagun Express will thus become an important weekly connection between Gujarat and Arunachal Pradesh, while simultaneously serving passengers across major railway corridors in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
