With Chhath Puja approaching, the number of passengers travelling to Bihar has increased, resulting in long waiting lists on several routes. To provide additional travel options, Northern Railway has proposed a Vande Bharat Festival Special train between New Delhi and Patna.
Northern Railway has approached East Central Railway to examine the feasibility of the service and provide approval at the earliest. According to reports, the proposed train could operate from November 11, 2026. However, the service is still awaiting the necessary approvals, and ticket bookings will begin only after its operation is officially confirmed.
As per the proposal, train numbers 02258 and 02257 will operate in the New Delhi–Patna and Patna–New Delhi directions on November 11 and 12, respectively.
The proposed train number 02258 will depart from New Delhi at 5:00 AM on November 11. It will make scheduled stops at the following stations:
| Station | Arrival Time |
|---|---|
| New Delhi | 5:00 AM (Departure) |
| Aligarh | 6:28 AM |
| Kanpur | 10:00 AM |
| Prayagraj | 12:30 PM |
| DDU | 3:00 PM |
| Steam | 4:26 PM |
| We buy | 5:10 PM |
| Patna | 6:30 PM |
The service is intended to help passengers travelling from Delhi and nearby areas reach Bihar ahead of the Chhath festival.
For the return journey, train number 02257 is proposed to leave Patna at 8:00 AM on November 12. The scheduled timings are as follows:
| Station | Arrival Time |
|---|---|
| Patna | 8:00 AM (Departure) |
| We buy | 8:38 AM |
| Steam | 9:25 AM |
| DDU | 11:00 AM |
| Prayagraj | 1:35 PM |
| Kanpur | 3:50 PM |
| Aligarh | 6:53 PM |
| New Delhi | 9:30 PM |
Passengers travelling back towards Delhi will be able to use the proposed return service if the railway authorities approve the operation.
995.6-Km Journey to Take 13 Hours and 30 Minutes
According to the proposed schedule, the 16-coach Vande Bharat train will cover approximately 995.6 kilometres between New Delhi and Patna in around 13 hours and 30 minutes.
The special service is planned as a one-time operation in each direction to accommodate the additional passenger demand during the Chhath festival period.
Ticket Booking Awaiting Railway Approval
Northern Railway has asked the concerned railway zones to suggest alternative timings if technical or operational issues prevent the proposed schedule from being implemented.
At present, the Vande Bharat Festival Special remains a proposal. Its operation and ticket booking will be announced officially only after the required No Objection Certificates (NOCs) are received from East Central Railway and North Central Railway.
Passengers should wait for the official railway announcement before making travel plans or expecting bookings to open.