New Delhi-Patna Vande Bharat Festival Special to Tackle Festive Rush
To manage the massive surge in passenger traffic expected during the Diwali and Chhath Puja festivals, Indian Railways has announced a new Vande Bharat Festival Special Express service between New Delhi and Patna. This premium service is set to provide a comfortable and efficient travel option for those heading home for the holidays.
Premium 16-Coach Festive Service
The newly introduced service will operate as a fully reserved, 16-coach train, offering passengers both AC Chair Car and Executive Chair Car accommodations. The initiative aims to ensure seamless transit between the national capital and Bihar during the peak festive season.
Himanshu Shekhar Upadhyay, Chief Public Relations Officer of Northern Railway, confirmed that the service is designed to ensure convenient travel for passengers. Adding to this, Saraswati Chandra, Chief Public Relations Officer of East Central Railway, noted that the train will provide much-needed additional transit capacity for the route.
Detailed Train Schedule and Operating Days
The festival special service will include 18 trips in each direction, running from October 16 to November 26, 2026. Below are the specific timings and schedules:
- Train No. 02252 (New Delhi to Patna):
- Special Dates: Operates on October 16 and 18, 2026.
- Regular Schedule: Every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday from October 21 to November 25, 2026.
- Departure: 08:35 AM from New Delhi.
- Arrival: 09:30 PM at Patna.
- Train No. 02251 (Patna to New Delhi):
- Special Dates: Operates on October 17 and 19, 2026.
- Regular Schedule: Every Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday from October 22 to November 26, 2026.
- Departure: 10:00 AM from Patna.
- Arrival: 11:30 PM at New Delhi.
Route, Distance, and Intermediate Stops
The journey covers a distance of approximately 999 km and takes roughly 12 hours and 55 minutes. The train will stop at six key stations along the way to facilitate passengers.
New Delhi to Patna (02252) Stop Timings:
- Aligarh: 10:21 AM - 10:23 AM
- Kanpur Central: 01:30 PM - 01:35 PM
- Prayagraj: 03:45 PM - 03:50 PM
- Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Junction: 06:00 PM - 06:10 PM
- Buxar: 07:26 PM - 07:28 PM
- Ara: 08:10 PM - 08:12 PM
Patna to New Delhi (02251) Stop Timings:
- Ara: 10:38 AM - 10:40 AM
- Buxar: 11:25 AM - 11:27 AM
- Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Junction: 01:10 PM - 01:20 PM
- Prayagraj: 03:35 PM - 03:40 PM
- Kanpur Central: 05:50 PM - 05:55 PM
- Aligarh: 08:53 PM - 08:55 PM