Passengers traveling from Bhagalpur can finally breathe a sigh of relief as the Indian Railways has announced a solid plan to tackle the festival rush. With Holi coming up on March 14 and Eid-ul-Fitr expected later in the month, the demand for tickets has skyrocketed. To manage this, the Malda Division has finalized arrangements to run 19 special trains connecting Bhagalpur to major cities like Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru.
Which special trains will run from Bhagalpur?
The Railway administration has focused on the busiest routes where getting a confirmed seat in regular trains like Vikramshila Express or Anga Express is currently very difficult. These special trains will operate specifically between late February and March end to help people reach home for festivals and return to work afterward.
- Bhagalpur to Delhi/Anand Vihar: Services will run twice a week starting from February 28 up to March 26. A total of 11 trips are planned for trains like 04411 and 03483.
- Bhagalpur to Bengaluru: Two weekly trains will operate from March 6 to March 20. A separate weekly train is also proposed to handle the return crowd after Holi.
- Bhagalpur to Mumbai: Weekly special trains are scheduled from March 6 to March 27 for passengers traveling to the western part of the country.
- Other Routes: Weekly trains will also run to Jodhpur and Khatipura from February 27. Special services for Gujarat are also included to assist industrial workers.
What are the ticket prices and booking rules?
Passengers should be aware that most of these festival trains are categorized under “Special Fare.” This means the ticket prices might be slightly higher than regular trains, typically carrying a premium of about 10% to 30%. The trains will have a mix of AC, Sleeper, and General coaches to suit different budgets.
Bookings can be done through the IRCTC website or at station counters. For local travelers, unreserved special trains will also run between Deoghar and Bargachhia from February 28 to March 2. The railway officials have stated that these steps are taken to ensure no passenger is left stranded due to long waiting lists.