Vande Bharat special to operate between Delhi and Patna for Diwali, Chhath: Check dates, timings, stoppages and more

Indian Railways will operate a tri-weekly Vande Bharat Express festival special between New Delhi and Patna Junction to accommodate the rush during Diwali and Chhath Puja. The service will run from October 21 to November 26, offering passengers additional travel options between the two cities.

Delhi-Patna Vande Bharat Special: Departure and arrival timings

The special train will depart from New Delhi at 8:35 am every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday and arrive at Patna Junction at 9:30 pm on the same day, reported TOI.

On the return journey, the train will leave Patna Junction at 10 am every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday, reaching New Delhi at 11:30 pm the same day.

Vande Bharat special: Six stoppages

The semi-high-speed special will have 16 chair-car coaches and stop at six stations along the route.

List of stoppages:

• Ara
• Buxar
• DDU
• Prayagraj
• Kanpur Central
• Aligarh

Two special trips scheduled before regular tri-weekly service begins

Before the regular tri-weekly service commences, the train will make two trips from New Delhi on October 16 and 18, with return journeys from Patna scheduled for October 17 and 19. The CPRO said these trips will follow the same timings as the regular festival service.

Vande Bharat special to ease festive rush for Diwali and Chhath Puja

The additional service is expected to increase capacity on the busy New Delhi-Patna route during the festive season. Many passengers travel to Bihar to celebrate Diwali and Chhath Puja with their families, leading to increased demand for train services during this period, railway sources told TOI.

Indian Railways plans to expand Vande Bharat Sleeper fleet

Indian Railways is also preparing to expand its Vande Bharat sleeper programme with a 24-coach version designed for long-distance overnight journeys. According to a TOI report, the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai has been tasked with manufacturing 50 such trainsets, with rollout targeted for the first half of 2027 and June proposed as the deadline.

The upgraded version will build on the existing Vande Bharat sleeper design, with additions including a pantry car, more toilets and improved interiors. The expansion is part of Indian Railways' broader plan to introduce more than 200 Vande Bharat sleeper trains in the coming years to improve overnight rail travel.