To accommodate the massive surge of devotees traveling for the auspicious Shravani Mela at Baba Dham, the North Eastern Railway (NER) has launched a dedicated unreserved special train service. This initiative aims to provide seamless travel connectivity for pilgrims throughout the holy month of Sawan, with several additional services coordinated by the Eastern Railway to ensure smooth transit across the region.
- Barhni-Deoghar Special (05028/05027) will run daily from July 28 to August 29, 2026.
- The service includes 33 trips with 14 unreserved coaches, including sleeper and general second-class configurations.
- Eastern Railway is introducing two pairs of bi-weekly special trains between Ranchi and Bhagalpur.
- Operational extensions have been granted for the Bhagalpur-Kiul special and the Saraigarh-Deoghar special until August 28, 2026.
Barhni-Deoghar Special Schedule
The 05028 Barhni-Deoghar unreserved special is scheduled to depart from Barhni at 3:20 PM daily, reaching Deoghar at 1:00 PM the following day. The return leg, train number 05027, will operate from Deoghar to Barhni from July 29 to August 30, 2026. Passengers should note that the train will have a significant 10-minute halt at Gorakhpur, departing at 5:50 PM. Key stops along the route include Siddharthnagar, Anandnagar, Hajipur, Barauni, Munger, and Bhagalpur.
Expanded Connectivity for Pilgrims
In addition to the NER services, the Eastern Railway has rolled out an extensive plan to manage the rush. According to Ranchi Rail Division officials, two new routes have been introduced: the 08690/08689 Ranchi-Bhagalpur-Ranchi service via Rajabera (operating Sundays and Wednesdays) and the 08646/08645 Ranchi-Bhagalpur-Ranchi service via Barkakana (operating Mondays and Fridays). These trains will feature a mix of AC, sleeper, and general class coaches to cater to diverse passenger needs.
Asansol Divisional Railway Manager Sangrah Maurya confirmed that the railway’s comprehensive plan includes 26 pairs of special trains and continuous MEMU services to ensure no pilgrim faces difficulty. Furthermore, existing services, including the Bhagalpur-Kiul unreserved special (03407-03408) and the Saraigarh-Deoghar Shravani Mela Special, have had their operational periods extended until August 28, 2026, providing devotees with multiple travel options throughout the pilgrimage season.