SRINAGAR: Northern Railway has announced eight festival special train services linking Jammu Division with major destinations, including New Delhi, Varanasi and Chhapra in Bihar, to accommodate increased passenger demand during the festive season.
According to railway officials, the services will operate on specified dates in October and November, with some extending into December. The additional trains are intended to provide more travel options during the festive rush, including for passengers travelling to Bihar for Chhath.
Four pairs of special services will connect New Delhi with Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra. Train Nos. 04081/04082 will operate from New Delhi between October 26 and November 6, with return services from Katra scheduled between October 27 and November 7. The pair also operated on selected dates earlier in October.
Train Nos. 04083/04084 are scheduled to run from New Delhi on October 16 and from Katra on October 17. Train Nos. 04085/04086 will depart New Delhi on October 15 and 17, with return journeys from Katra on October 16 and 18. Train Nos. 04485/04486 will operate from New Delhi on October 18 and 20, returning from Katra on October 19 and 21.
Northern Railway has also announced services between Jammu Division and Varanasi. Train Nos. 04231/04232 will connect Varanasi and Jammu Tawi, with departures from Varanasi on October 18 and return services from Jammu on October 19.
Train Nos. 04604/04603 will operate between Katra and Varanasi, with services leaving Katra every Sunday until November 29 and return trains departing Varanasi every Tuesday until December 1.
Another pair, Train Nos. 04610/04609, will connect Jammu Tawi and Varanasi, with departures from Jammu every Thursday until November 26 and return services from Varanasi every Friday until November 27.
For passengers travelling to Bihar, Train No. 05194 will run from Pathankot Junction to Chhapra every Wednesday from October 7 to November 25. The service is intended to ease travel for passengers heading to Bihar during the Chhath festival.
Depending on their routes, the special trains will serve stations including Jammu Tawi, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra, Martyr Captain Tushar Mahajan, Pathankot, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Ambala, Saharanpur and Lucknow.
Northern Railway said the festival special services would have reserved accommodation. Tickets can be booked through the IRCTC website or railway reservation counters.
Passengers have been advised to check the applicable operating dates, train timings and seat availability before making travel arrangements.
