15,000 trains, 100+ special train pairs and a Vande Bharat: Indian Railways has a big Diwali & Chhath Puja gift for Bihar passengers

The Indian Railways will operate 15,000 trains to and from Bihar to manage the expected surge in passenger traffic during Diwali and Chhath, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said. The additional services are aimed at helping passengers travel to their hometowns for the festivals and return to their workplaces afterwards. Vaishnaw said the Railways had planned 15,000 trains for the state, compared with around 12,000 services under normal operations. The additional train arrangements are intended to manage the heavy passenger movement during Bihar's two major festivals. The Railways will also run special services between January 9 and 16 for the Prakash Parv celebrations at Patna Sahib, allowing devotees from different parts of the country to travel to the city.

Separately, the Railways has introduced more than 100 pairs of special trains to handle the festive rush, with most of these services originating from or passing through the East Central Railway (ECR) zone.

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ECR chief public relations officer Saraswati Chandra said at least 13 special trains, including a Vande Bharat Express between Patna and New Delhi, had been introduced. Five pairs of special trains are also operating between Dhanbad and Gaya and Delhi.

Special trains from Bihar to Delhi, Punjab, Mumbai and other destinations

The ECR has arranged additional services on several busy routes to help passengers travel during the festive period. According to Chandra, 14 additional special trains are running between north Bihar and Delhi, while nine services connect north Bihar with Punjab. Eight special trains are operating between Patna and Howrah, with another 10 connecting north Bihar and Howrah.

For passengers travelling towards central India, 11 special trains have been introduced from the ECR region to destinations such as Bhopal, Kota and Gwalior. Seven services are operating towards Gujarat, while 11 trains connect the region with various destinations in south India.

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The Railways has also arranged 11 special trains between the ECR region and Mumbai and Pune. Four additional services are operating towards Tatanagar, Ranchi and Rourkela, while five special trains are running within the ECR zone.

Chandra said the additional services were expected to provide relief to passengers travelling to their hometowns and returning to their workplaces after the festivals.

Vande Bharat between Sitamarhi and Ayodhya proposed

During the meeting, Choudhary proposed a Vande Bharat Express between Sitamarhi and Ayodhya. Vaishnaw agreed to the proposal, with the service expected to improve connectivity between the two religious and historical destinations and support religious tourism.

The chief minister also sought better rail connectivity to the upcoming Integrated Manufacturing Cluster at Dobhi in Gaya district. Vaishnaw said the Railways was ready to construct a new connecting line between Gaya and Dobhi-Chatra, provided the state government arranged the required land.

The proposed line is expected to help industrial units receive raw materials and transport finished goods.

Bihar rail projects: Bihta-Aurangabad line and Ganga bridge discussed

The meeting also covered the progress of pending railway projects, including the Bihta-Aurangabad and Sultanganj-Katoria rail lines. Both sides agreed on the proposed construction of a rail-cum-road bridge over the Ganga under the Vikramshila-Kataria rail line project.

According to a communique issued by the chief minister's office, the discussions focused on strengthening railway infrastructure, improving passenger facilities and accelerating projects across the state. The Centre and Bihar government also discussed ways to promote information technology and industrial investment.

Marhaura and Madhepura rail factories to see production expansion

The future of the railway engine manufacturing facilities at Marhaura and Madhepura was another subject discussed during the meeting. The two sides reviewed plans to expand their production capacity.

The chief minister's office said production at the facilities would restart in a new form around six months after the existing production arrangement ends in 2028. Their capacity is also expected to be doubled.

The discussions formed part of a wider effort to improve railway connectivity, passenger services and industrial infrastructure in Bihar.


Inputs from agencies