Indian Railways announces Khatipura Howrah festive special train service
Indian Railways has launched a special train service between Khatipura in Rajasthan and Howrah in West Bengal to manage the heavy passenger rush during the upcoming festive season. This single round-trip service is designed to provide smooth connectivity and ease travel discomfort for passengers travelling across multiple states. The train is equipped with a comprehensive 21-coach composition, featuring eight general coaches, seven sleeper class coaches, four AC third-class coaches, and two AC second-class coaches to accommodate diverse travel budgets and preferences. Travellers can book their tickets conveniently through the IRCTC website or at computerized reservation counters across railway stations.
Train Schedule and Timings
The Khatipura-Howrah Special (Train Number 09709) is scheduled to depart from Khatipura at 5:00 PM on August 29, 2026. En route, the service will pass through major stations including Dhanbad, Gaya, and Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Junction (DDU). It is slated to reach Dhanbad at 4:00 PM the following day before finally arriving at Howrah at 10:15 PM. For the return journey, the Howrah-Khatipura Special (Train Number 09710) will depart from Howrah at 12:15 AM on August 31, 2026. This return leg is scheduled to arrive in Dhanbad at 6:00 AM and reach its final destination at Khatipura at 11:30 AM on Tuesday.
Complete Route and Halts
To facilitate passengers boarding from intermediate destinations, this festive special will make scheduled stops at a large number of important junctions and stations. Besides the primary transit points, the train will halt at Gomoh, Parasnath, Hazaribagh Road, Koderma, Anugrah Narayan Road, Dehri On Sone, Sasaram, Bhabua Road, Subedarganj, Govindpuri, Etawah, Tundla, Idgah Agra, Bharatpur, Bandikui, Dausa, Bandel, Barddhaman, Durgapur, and Asansol. Indian Railways strongly advises all passengers to verify the exact arrival and departure timings for their specific boarding stations using the National Train Enquiry System (NTES) app or website prior to undertaking their journey.