Vikramshila & Garib Rath Delayed: Festive Travel Chaos for Bhagalpur
Major delays on the Sahibganj Loop Line affect Vikramshila Express, Garib Rath, and Puja Special trains during Diwali and Chhath festivals.
Passengers traveling between Anand Vihar Terminal and Bhagalpur are facing severe disruptions as major trains run significantly behind schedule. This delay comes at the worst possible time, as thousands of commuters attempt to reach home for the Diwali and Chhath festivals.
Sahibganj Loop Line Under Pressure
The delays are concentrated on the Sahibganj Loop Line within the Eastern Railway's Malda Division. Specifically, the Bhagalpur-Jamalpur-Kiul rail section is seeing major operational hurdles, leaving travelers stranded or stuck on slow-moving trains during the peak holiday rush.
Vikramshila Express and Garib Rath Hit Hard
Official running status reports highlight significant setbacks for key services that passengers rely on for festive travel:
- 12368 Down Vikramshila Superfast Express: This train is currently running approximately four hours late. While it was originally scheduled to arrive at Jamalpur Junction at 06:30 AM, it is now expected only after 10:30 AM.
- 22406 Down Anand Vihar-Bhagalpur Garib Rath Express: Passengers on this service are facing a delay of about one hour and 30 minutes. The train, which was scheduled to reach Jamalpur at 09:10 AM, is now estimated to arrive around 10:40 AM.
Puja Special Train Faces Consistent Delays
Adding to the widespread frustration is the 04062 Down Special Fare Express, a service specifically introduced to manage the increased holiday passenger traffic. This particular train has been struggling with significant delays for over a week.
Despite a scheduled arrival at Jamalpur Junction at 11:02 AM, the train was only cleared to depart from Gaya Junction at 09:00 AM. Consequently, railway sources indicate the train will not arrive at Jamalpur until after 02:00 PM, marking a delay of more than three hours.
The recurring delays on the Bhagalpur-Jamalpur-Kiul section are causing significant inconvenience to families and travelers trying to navigate the festive season.