Indian Railways Extends Special Train Services to Bihar and Jharkhand Until December 2026

The Indian Railways has announced an extension for four special train services connecting Delhi to Purnia, Saharsa, Gaya, and Dhanbad until December 1, 2026. This initiative, managed by the Northern Railway zone and the Samastipur Division of the East Central Railway, aims to accommodate increased passenger traffic and travel demand during the upcoming festive season.

Here are the key highlights of the extended special train services:

• Four major special train services connecting Delhi to Bihar and Jharkhand have been extended up to December 1, 2026.
• The festive season rush will be managed efficiently through additional trips on routes like Gaya, Dhanbad, and Darbhanga.
• A temporary two-minute halt has been introduced at Tundla Junction for passenger convenience.
• All existing operational protocols, including timings, routes, and coach compositions, remain unchanged.

Schedule and Trip Details of Special Trains

The Gaya-Anand Vihar Terminal Weekly Special (02397/02398) has been extended for 13 trips each from September through November 2026. Train number 02397 is scheduled to depart from Gaya every Sunday, while 02398 will depart from Anand Vihar every Monday.

The Dhanbad-Shakoorbasti bi-weekly special (03639/03640) has seen an increase of 26 trips each. Train number 03639 will run from Dhanbad every Monday and Friday from September 4 to November 30, while train 03640 will depart from Shakoorbasti every Tuesday and Saturday from September 5 to December 1. To further assist commuters, the railway administration has introduced a two-minute temporary halt for this service at Tundla Junction.

Additionally, the Darbhanga-New Delhi Special (02569) will operate from September 4 to November 30, 2026, with the return service, the New Delhi-Darbhanga Special (02570), running from September 5 to December 1, 2026. These services will complete a total of 88 trips in both directions.

Ensuring Smooth Passenger Travel

Railway officials confirmed that all existing operational protocols, including schedules, routes, stops, coach compositions, and service days, will remain unchanged. The decision follows a concerted effort by rail administration to ensure seat availability and manage the heavy rush of passengers during the peak travel period.