New Delhi: To manage the expected increase in passenger traffic during Durga Puja, Diwali and Chhath, the Northeast Frontier Railway has announced four pairs of special trains serving the Seemanchal region. The additional services will improve rail connectivity across Bihar, West Bengal, the northeastern states, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab and Chandigarh during the festive period.
The special trains will operate on the Narangi–Gorakhpur, Katihar–Sabour, Firozpur Cantonment–Purnia and Bhagalpur–Katihar routes. Depending on the route, services will run weekly, on selected days or daily, giving passengers more options for travelling to their hometowns and other destinations.
Narangi–Gorakhpur Weekly Festival Special
Train No. 05633, the Narangi–Gorakhpur Weekly Festival Special, will operate every Friday from October 16 to November 27, 2026. It will leave Narangi at 8 pm and reach Gorakhpur at 9:40 pm the following day.
The return service, Train No. 05634, will run every Sunday from October 18 to November 29. It will depart from Gorakhpur at 1:10 am and arrive at Narangi at 3 am on Monday.
The train will have 22 coaches and complete seven trips in each direction.
Katihar–Sabour Special to Run Three Days a Week
Train No. 05782, the Katihar–Sabour Puja Special Intercity Express, will run every Thursday, Sunday and Monday from October 8 to November 30. The train will depart from Katihar at 4:50 pm and reach Sabour at 11 pm on the same day.
Its return service, Train No. 05781, will operate every Friday, Monday and Tuesday from October 9 to December 1. It will leave Sabour at 4:50 am and arrive in Katihar at 10:55 am.
The 22-coach service will make 24 trips in each direction.
Firozpur Cantonment–Purnia Festival Special
Train No. 04634 will operate from Firozpur Cantonment to Purnia every Thursday between October 8 and November 26. It will depart at 5:30 pm and reach Purnia at 3 am on Saturday.
The return train, No. 04633, will run every Saturday from October 10 to November 28. It will leave Purnia at 6 am and arrive at Firozpur Cantonment at 4:35 pm on Sunday.
The train will have 18 coaches and complete eight trips in each direction.
Bhagalpur–Katihar Special to Operate Daily
Train No. 03409, the Bhagalpur–Katihar Special, began operating daily on October 7 and will continue until November 30. It will leave Bhagalpur at 5:30 pm and reach Katihar at 11:10 pm on the same day.
The return service, Train No. 03410, will run daily from October 8 to December 1. It will depart from Katihar at 6:35 am and arrive in Bhagalpur at 12:05 pm.
The service is scheduled to complete 55 trips in each direction.
The additional trains are intended to reduce crowding during the festive season and make long-distance journeys more convenient. Passengers travelling through the Seemanchal region will have more rail services available when planning their festival travel.
Disclaimer
This article is based on the railway schedule details provided in the source material. Train timings, operating dates, frequency and services may change. Passengers should verify the latest information through official Indian Railways or Northeast Frontier Railway channels before travelling.