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Festive Tracks: Indian Railways Rolls Out Special Durga Puja-Chhath Express

Swarnadwip Nath Published Aug 24, 2025, 11:20 PM Updated Sep 18, 2026, 04:25 AM

In readiness for the upcoming festive season, Indian Railways plans to operate a special train connecting Baxar and Kiul, catering to the heavy travel demand during Durga Puja and Chhath Mahaparv. The service will be operational from August 25 to November 29, 2025, providing critical connectivity...

The train aims to ease congestion on existing routes by offering an additional travel option between major stations along the route, including Bara, Bakhtiyarpur, Mokama, and Lakhisarai. This initiative comes as part of Indian Railways' larger strategy to run more than 12,000 special trains nationwide during major festivals such as Durga Puja, Diwali, and Chhath.

Operational Details and Timings

The special train service will operate six days a week, from Monday to Saturday, with Sundays off. The train will depart from Baxar at 5:40 AM, stopping at key stations such as Dumraon, Raghunathpur, Bihiya, Ara Junction, Danapur, Patna Junction, Rajendranagar Terminal, Patna Sahib, Bakhtiyarpur Junction, Mokama, and Lakhisarai before reaching Kiul Junction at 11:35 AM.

The return journey from Kiul will start at 2:40 PM, with stops at Mokama, Barh, Bakhtiyarpur Junction, Patna Junction, Danapur, and Ara Junction before arriving back at Baxar at 8:35 PM. The train consists of 20 coaches, including 18 general coaches and 2 SLRD coaches, ensuring ample capacity for passengers during the high-demand festive period.

Importance of Special Trains During Festive Seasons

With millions traveling to their native places to celebrate festivals, the demand for rail connectivity soars dramatically during periods like Durga Puja and Chhath. Typically, regular train services are oversubscribed or insufficient to meet this surge. Indian Railways’ initiative of running dedicated special trains provides vital relief and helps accommodate last-minute travelers.

Special trains reduce overcrowding, minimize travel delays, and improve safety and comfort for festive passengers. The railway ministry further offers discounted round-trip packages to ease financial burdens, enhancing accessibility for a diverse range of passengers.

Broader Scale of Festive Travel Operations

This train is part of Indian Railways’ massive rollout of approximately 12,000 special trains nationally between October and November 2025, targeting various festival travel demands. The network extension includes not just Durga Puja and Chhath but also Diwali and other regional festivities, ensuring robust passenger movement across critical corridors.

Additional new routes such as Delhi-Gaya, Saharsa-Amritsar, Chhapra-Delhi, and Muzaffarpur-Hyderabad will also see more special services, improving connectivity across states. The popular Vande Bharat Express will further serve the Purnia-Patna route during this period to accommodate rising passenger volumes.

Passenger Advisory

Railway authorities urge passengers to plan and book travel well in advance to utilize the special trains. Keeping track of schedule changes, temporary stoppages, seat availability, and coach compositions via official railway portals, including NTES and IRCTC, will ensure a smooth journey.

Travelers are advised to check the availability of return journey discounts and familiarize themselves with cancellation policies specific to special trains, which may differ from regular services.

Conclusion

The launch of the Baxar-Kiul special train is a thoughtful response from Indian Railways to the festive season’s travel boom. It promises convenience, increased capacity, and safer travel options for passengers heading home for Durga Puja and Chhath celebrations. This localized initiative complements a nationwide surge of special trains, showcasing Indian Railways’ commitment to facilitating cultural connectivity across the country.

Relevant Sources: The Daily Jagran, Indian Express, The Logical Indian

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