Railways Extends Run of Special Trains to Ease Festival Travel Pressure

In a significant move aimed at enhancing passenger convenience and improving seat availability during the upcoming festive season, the railway administration has decided to extend the operational period of several special trains. The decision comes in anticipation of increased travel demand linked to major festivals in the coming months. Officials confirmed that these extensions will help pilgrims, families and regular travellers from Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi-NCR and other regions reach their destinations with greater ease and reduced last-minute rush.

The extended services cover key routes connecting eastern and northern India as well as western regions. Below are the detailed arrangements for each special train.

1. Gaya – Anand Vihar Terminal – Gaya Weekly Special (02397/02398)

Train No. 02397 (Gaya to Anand Vihar Terminal) will now operate every Sunday from 6 September 2026 to 29 November 2026, covering a total of 13 trips. In the return direction, Train No. 02398 (Anand Vihar Terminal to Gaya) will run every Monday from 7 September 2026 to 30 November 2026, also for 13 trips.

An important change has been made in the schedule of these trains. Train No. 02397 will depart from Gaya at 14:15 hours instead of Sheikhpura. Similarly, Train No. 02398 will terminate at Gaya instead of Sheikhpura and is scheduled to arrive at Gaya at 00:30 hours. These modifications are expected to provide better connectivity for passengers originating from or bound for Gaya, a major pilgrimage and educational hub.

Railway officials noted that the extended run of this weekly special will particularly benefit devotees and students travelling between Bihar and the national capital region during the festival period.

2. Dhanbad – Shakurbasti – Dhanbad Bi-Weekly Special (03639/03640)

The bi-weekly special between Dhanbad and Shakurbasti has also received a significant extension. Train No. 03639 (Dhanbad to Shakurbasti) will operate every Monday and Friday from 4 September 2026 to 30 November 2026, amounting to 26 trips. In the return direction, Train No. 03640 (Shakurbasti to Dhanbad) will run every Tuesday and Saturday from 5 September 2026 to 1 December 2026, also for 26 trips.

To further improve passenger convenience, the railway has introduced an additional stoppage at Tundla station with immediate effect. Train No. 03639 will arrive at Tundla at 12:13 hours and depart at 12:15 hours. Train No. 03640 will reach Tundla at 03:30 hours and leave at 03:32 hours. This short but strategic halt will allow passengers from the Agra-Tundla belt easier access to the service connecting Jharkhand with Delhi-NCR.

Officials emphasised that the bi-weekly frequency combined with the extended period and the new Tundla stop will substantially increase travel options for industrial workers, students and festival travellers on this busy corridor.

3. Muzaffarpur – Anand Vihar Terminal – Muzaffarpur Express Special (05219/05220)

Another important service being extended is the Muzaffarpur–Anand Vihar Terminal Express Special. Train No. 05219 (Muzaffarpur to Anand Vihar Terminal) will operate every Friday from 11 September 2026 to 27 November 2026 for a total of 12 trips. Train No. 05220 (Anand Vihar Terminal to Muzaffarpur) will run every Saturday from 12 September 2026 to 28 November 2026, also for 12 trips.

The train will consist of modern LHB coaches. The composition includes 2 SLR coaches, 12 AC 3-tier Economy coaches and 8 AC 2-tier coaches, making a total of 22 coaches. This upgraded rake is expected to offer improved comfort and higher capacity for long-distance passengers.

Detailed timings have also been released. Train No. 05219 will depart Muzaffarpur at 13:30 hours and reach Anand Vihar Terminal the next morning at 10:00 hours after halting at major stations including Hajipur (14:30/14:35), Sonpur (14:45/14:47), Patliputra (15:40/15:50), Danapur (16:13/16:15), Ara (16:43/16:45), Buxar (17:28/17:30), Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Junction (19:15/19:25), Prayagraj (22:20/22:25), Govindpuri (01:40/01:45) and Tundla (05:03/05:05).

In the return direction, Train No. 05220 will leave Anand Vihar Terminal at 12:00 hours and arrive at Muzaffarpur the following morning at 09:45 hours after stops at Tundla (16:08/16:10), Govindpuri (19:40/19:45), Prayagraj (22:55/23:00), Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Junction (02:50/03:00), Buxar (04:03/04:05), Ara (05:08/05:10), Danapur (06:00/06:02), Patliputra (06:45/06:55), Sonpur (07:25/07:30) and Hajipur (07:40/07:45).

This service is expected to play a crucial role in catering to the heavy bidirectional traffic between Bihar and Delhi during the festive months.

4. Vadodara – Gorakhpur – Vadodara Special (09111/09112)

The operational period of the Vadodara–Gorakhpur special has also been extended. Train No. 09111 (Vadodara to Gorakhpur), which runs every Monday, will now operate from 5 October 2026 to 23 November 2026, covering eight additional trips. Train No. 09112 (Gorakhpur to Vadodara), departing every Wednesday, will run from 7 October 2026 to 25 November 2026, also for eight trips.

Due to ongoing construction work (RLDA block) at Lucknow station, both trains will be diverted via Aishbagh instead of Lucknow during this period. There will be no stoppage at Lucknow station. Instead, a new halt has been provided at Aishbagh (ASH). Train No. 09111 will arrive at Aishbagh at 18:00 hours and depart at 18:10 hours. Train No. 09112 will arrive at Aishbagh at 10:30 hours and leave at 10:40 hours.

Passengers travelling to or from Lucknow are advised to plan accordingly and use Aishbagh station for boarding or alighting.

Passenger Advisory

Railway authorities have strongly requested all passengers to check the latest train schedules, route changes and stoppages before commencing their journey. Updated information can be obtained through Rail Madad, the National Train Enquiry System (NTES) app, or official railway enquiry services. Passengers are also encouraged to book tickets well in advance, especially for weekend and festival-period travel, to avoid inconvenience.

These coordinated extensions of special trains reflect the railways’ proactive approach towards managing seasonal demand. By increasing the number of trips, introducing strategic stoppages and ensuring modern coach compositions where possible, the administration aims to provide safer, more comfortable and more accessible travel options for thousands of passengers during the busy festive months ahead.