Every year, there is a serious problem with obtaining tickets for trains running from Delhi to Bihar around the Diwali and Chhath festivals. This year, the demand for seats on regular trains was so high that they were completely sold out immediately after sales opened for 60 days. Currently, passengers are forced to rely on the Tatkal express quota, provided the railway application functions correctly. The reason is that either tickets on all trains are marked as 'Regret', or the waiting lists are so long that there is no chance of ticket confirmation.
In this regard, a new option may appear for travelers from the railway: the launch of a special Vande Bharat train between Delhi and Patna is being prepared, which could ease travel during the holidays. Although the railway has not yet given final approval for the operation of this train, the Northern Railway has submitted a corresponding proposal to the Railway Board. If approved, passengers will be able to use the high-speed route from Delhi to Patna during Diwali and Chhath.
According to the proposal, the special Vande Bharat services between Delhi and Patna are planned to run from October 21 to November 28. Two sets of trains have been proposed. The first set (02252/02251) will operate from October 21 to November 25. Its departures from New Delhi are scheduled for Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays. The return journey from Patna will operate from October 22 to November 26 on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays. A total of 16 runs have been proposed for this pair.
The second set (02253/02254) is proposed to run from October 24 to November 28. Departures from Patna will occur on Saturdays, Mondays, and Wednesdays. The return journey from New Delhi is scheduled from October 22 to November 26 on Sundays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Thursdays.
This train will cover a distance of about 994 kilometers in approximately 13 hours. According to the planned schedule, the train will depart from New Delhi at 8:35 AM. Along the way, it will stop at Aligarh, Kanpur Central, Prayagraj, Pan. Dindiyapal Upadhyay Junction, Baksar, and Ara. After this, the train will arrive in Patna around 9:30 PM.
It is proposed that the train from Patna to New Delhi will depart at 10:00 AM. It will arrive at Prayagraj around 3:35 PM, and then the arrival in New Delhi is scheduled for around 11:30 PM. Thus, passengers traveling from Delhi to Patna can leave in the morning and reach Patna by evening. Similarly, on the return journey, there will also be an opportunity to leave Patna in the morning and arrive in Delhi at night.
If the Railway Board gives its consent, the fare in AC Chair Car with food may range from 2,575 to 2,600 rupees. For the Executive Chair Car class with food, a price of 4,650 to 4,680 rupees is proposed. Therefore, before purchasing a ticket, passengers should assess how convenient this option is considering their budget and travel time. The meal option must be selected when booking the ticket. If meals are not taken, the ticket price may be slightly lower.
Currently, tickets are unavailable because the train is in the proposal stage and awaiting approval from the Railway Board. Ticket sales will only begin after official permission is granted. According to the PRO of the Northern Railway, booking will open on the IRCTC website immediately after approval. Therefore, those planning a trip from Delhi to Patna during Diwali or Chhath will benefit from monitoring announcements and the start of sales for this train.
Reasons for high demand during festivals
During Diwali and Chhath, a large number of people from Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, and surrounding areas travel to Bihar and Eastern Uttar Pradesh. The number of passengers returning home increases particularly sharply during Chhath. Because of this, it becomes difficult to obtain a confirmed ticket on regular trains. The railway organizes special trains on various routes to manage passenger flow. The special Vande Bharat Delhi-Patna train may become part of this preparation.
