Indian Railways launches New Delhi-Patna Vande Bharat ahead of Diwali, Chhath – Check route and timings

The New Delhi-Patna Vande Bharat Festival Special will operate as train number 02254/02253.

The Indian Railways has launched a new Vande Bharat Express between New Delhi and Patna, to boost connectivity between the two cities ahead of the upcoming festive season.

For now, this train will operate as a festival special service, designed to meet the surge in passenger demand during this busy travel period.

“To facilitate the travel of passengers during the ensuing festivals, Railways have decided to run Vande Bharat festival special trains. These special trains will cater to the increased demand for travel during the festival season and ensure a comfortable and safe journey for all passengers,” Himanshu Shekhar Upadhyay, chief public relations officer of Northern Railway was quoted by The Indian Express as saying.

The New Delhi-Patna Vande Bharat Festival Special will operate as train number 02254/02253. The service will officially start from October 11 and continue till November 17, making it available throughout the festive period that includes Diwali, and Chhath Puja.

From Patna Junction, the train will begin its first trip on October 11, while from New Delhi, the inaugural commercial run will be on October 12.

The semi-high-speed train will complete the journey in about 13 hours covering a distance of nearly 1,000 kilometers. The route will include six important stops - Aligarh, Kanpur Central, Prayagraj, Pt Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Junction, Buxar, and Ara, ensuring that passengers from key cities along the way can also benefit from this new service.

As per the official schedule, the New Delhi-Patna train will depart from the capital at 8.35 am and reach Patna at 9.30 pm the same day. On the return trip, the Patna-New Delhi Vande Bharat Special will leave Patna at 10.00 am and arrive in the capital by 11.30 pm.