Indian Railways has announced a major relief for travellers. The festival season is quickly approaching. To handle the expected passenger rush, 14 pairs of special trains have been sanctioned. These extra services are officially designated as “Puja specials.” They will run from various originating points in Bihar. These trains connect Bihar to several major cities across India. Key destinations include Bengaluru, Howrah (Kolkata), and Lokmanya Tilak Terminal (Mumbai).

The operation of these additional trains is crucial. It aims to accommodate the high volume of travellers. This large movement of people is typical during the holiday season. These Puja special trains are scheduled to operate for an extended period. They will remain in service until the end of December 2025. The new trains will maintain varying operational frequencies. Some of these Bihar special trains will run weekly. Others are scheduled to operate twice a week. This strategic planning ensures maximum coverage. It also addresses the specific travel needs of commuters. Passengers should note the importance of early ticket booking. These holiday special trains are expected to see high demand.

Key Puja Special Trains from Bihar: Routes and Schedule Details

The Indian Railways has confirmed services on several key routes. These Bihar festival trains are vital for connecting the state to major metropolitan areas. They provide essential connectivity for passengers traveling long distances. The following list details some of the most important services sanctioned for the season. These routes cover the central and western parts of the country.

One key service is the Saharsa-Lokmanya Tilak Special. This train connects Saharsa in Bihar to Mumbai. It uses train numbers 05585/05586. This particular special train will operate until November 30, 2025. Another important route is the Dhanbad-Lokmanya Tilak Special. Though originating in Dhanbad, it serves many commuters from the Bihar border. It connects the region to Mumbai using train numbers 03379/03380. Its operational period extends until December 4, 2025.

The connection between Bihar and South India is strengthened. Two special trains are dedicated to this route. The Danapur-SMVT Bengaluru Special is one such service. It connects Danapur to Bengaluru using train numbers 03241/03242. This service has the longest operational run. It is scheduled to run until December 29, 2025. A second Danapur-SMVT Bengaluru Special also exists. This one uses train numbers 03247/03248. It will be available for travellers until December 27, 2025. This doubled capacity highlights the demand for the Bihar to Bengaluru train route.

For travel to Kolkata, a specific service has been arranged. The Patna-Howrah Special connects Patna to Kolkata (Howrah). It operates with train numbers 02024/02023. This Patna to Howrah train service is a crucial short-term addition. Its current operational period is limited until November 16, 2025.

Connecting Bihar to the crucial western city of Pune is also a priority. The Danapur-Hadapsar (Pune) Special is running for this purpose. It connects Danapur to Pune using train numbers 03213/03214. This service is available until December 1, 2025. Finally, the Raxaul-Lokmanya Tilak Special is another key service to Mumbai. It connects Raxaul to Mumbai using train numbers 05557/05558. This important North Bihar train service will operate until November 27, 2025. These special train services are essential for managing holiday travel.

Vande Bharat Express Availability Update for Bihar Passengers

In addition to the Puja special trains, Indian Railways provided an update. This update concerns confirmed seat availability for Vande Bharat Express services. These high-speed services run through Bihar. The availability report covers the first half of October 2025. This information is vital for passengers planning premium, fast travel.

The New Jalpaiguri-Patna Vande Bharat is showing good availability. Confirmed seats are currently available on specific dates. These dates are October 15, October 16, October 20, October 22, and October 25. Passengers seeking swift travel on this route should book quickly.

The Howrah-Patna Vande Bharat service is also seeing new seats open. Seats will become available starting from October 13, 2025. This is excellent news for commuters traveling between Kolkata and Patna.

The Lucknow-Gomtinagar-Patna Vande Bharat service also has upcoming availability. Seats will be available starting from October 12, 2025. This timing is perfect for travelers coming from the Uttar Pradesh region.

Another key high-speed link is the Tata-Patna Vande Bharat. Seats on this route will be available starting from October 13, 2025. This improves connectivity from the Jharkhand region into the Bihar capital.

However, the Delhi-Patna Vande Bharat route remains highly congested. Seats on this premier Delhi-Patna train service are currently reported as not available. This reflects the extremely high demand on this important trunk route. Passengers for this corridor must seek alternative train booking options or check for last-minute cancellations.

Essential Travel Advice and Ticket Booking Information

The announcement of 14 pairs of special trains offers a much-needed lifeline. It will help millions of passengers during the busy Puja holidays. These festival special trains significantly increase overall rail capacity. This is especially true for popular routes heading out of Bihar. These routes include major corridors to Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, and Pune.

Passengers are strongly advised to check the official railway website. They should do this for detailed schedules and train routes. The website will also provide the most accurate reservation status. Given the high demand for festival travel, booking tickets early is highly recommended. This applies to both the Puja specials and the Vande Bharat Express services. Travelers should prepare for potential seasonal delays. They must also arrive at the station well in advance of their train’s departure time. This robust network of special railway services ensures better holiday travel management. It also helps to ease the usual festive season traffic.