Delhi-Patna Vande Bharat: Special Festive Service Announced
To manage the massive surge in passenger traffic during the 2026 Diwali and Chhath Puja festivals, Indian Railways has announced a special Delhi-Patna Vande Bharat Express service. This dedicated festive run is designed to provide a premium and efficient travel experience for commuters traveling between the national capital and Bihar.
Detailed Schedule and Timings
The special service will operate for a limited period, running from October 16, 2026, to November 26, 2026. A total of 18 trips will be conducted in each direction to accommodate the holiday rush.
- New Delhi to Patna (Train No. 02252): This service will depart from New Delhi at 8:35 AM and is scheduled to reach Patna Junction by 9:30 PM.
- Patna to New Delhi (Train No. 02251): The return journey will depart from Patna Junction at 10:00 AM, arriving in New Delhi at 11:30 PM.
The journey covers a distance of approximately 994 to 999 kilometers, taking roughly 12 hours and 55 minutes.
Operating Days and Frequency
The train will follow a specific weekly schedule to ensure maximum coverage during the festive window:
- From New Delhi: After initial runs on October 16 and 18, the train will operate every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday from October 21 to November 25, 2026.
- From Patna: Following runs on October 17 and 19, the service will operate every Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday from October 22 to November 26, 2026.
Route and Major Halts
The special Vande Bharat service will provide connectivity through several key stations, ensuring passengers can access major hubs along the route. The scheduled halts include:
- Aligarh Junction
- Kanpur Central
- Prayagraj Junction
- Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Junction (DDU)
- Buxar
- Ara
Fare Structure and Booking Information
The 16-coach train offers two premium classes of travel, both of which include meals in the ticket price:
- AC Chair Car: Fares range between ₹2,575 and ₹2,615.
- Executive Chair Car: Fares range between ₹4,650 and ₹4,695.
Passengers can begin booking their tickets starting from October 15, 2026. Bookings can be made through the official IRCTC website, the mobile application, or at any railway reservation counter.
The operational details for this festive service were confirmed by Northern Railway CPRO Himanshu Shekhar Upadhyay and East Central Railway CPRO Saraswati Chandra.