New Delhi-Howrah Festival Special: Frequency Boosted to Tri-Weekly for Festive Rush!
Indian Railways is ramping up its services to handle the massive surge in passenger traffic during the upcoming festive season. To accommodate travelers during Durga Puja, Diwali, and Chhath, the frequency of the New Delhi-Howrah Festival Special (04052/04051) has been officially increased from weekly to tri-weekly.
Shivram Majhi, Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) of Eastern Railway, confirmed that this expansion is specifically designed to manage the heavy holiday rush across the route.
New Tri-Weekly Schedule
With the increased frequency, the special trains will now operate three times a week. The updated departure schedule is as follows:
- Train 04052 (New Delhi to Howrah): Departing on Fridays, Sundays, and Tuesdays.
- Train 04051 (Howrah to New Delhi): Departing on Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays.
The service is set to run from October 2, 2026, through November 29, 2026. However, the return service from Howrah to New Delhi will extend its operations until December 1, 2026. During this period, each direction will complete a total of nine trips.
Route Details and Train Composition
The 1,531 km journey provides essential connectivity to several major stations. The 16-coach train offers a variety of travel options, including General Second Class, Sleeper Class, and Air-Conditioned accommodations.
Key stops on the route include:
- Bandel, Barddhaman, and Durgapur
- Asansol, Chittaranjan, and Madhupur
- Jasidih, Jhajha, and Mokama
- Danapur and Patna Junction
- Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya, Prayagraj, and Kanpur Central