Railways Announces To Roll Out 12,000+ Special Trains For Bihar During Diwali, Chhath Festivals

Last Updated:August 20, 2025, 22:47 IST

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced over 12,000 special trains for Bihar during Diwali and Chhath, including Vande Bharat Express and Buddha Circuit Train.

The decision aims to ease passenger movement during the festive rush, when demand for tickets soars. (Representational image)

In a significant move to improve festive travel, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Wednesday announced that over 12,000 trains will be operated for Bihar during Diwali and Chhath festivals this year.

The decision aims to ease passenger movement during the festive rush, when demand for tickets soars.

Vaishnaw also announced several initiatives that the Railway Ministry has taken for the convenience of people of Bihar travelling to destinations across the country by train.

He said that the Railway Ministry has also planned to launch a special Buddha Circuit Train from Vaishali, connecting key heritage destinations related to Lord Buddha. The train will cover Hajipur, Patliputra, Nalanda, Rajgir, Gaya, among other tourism spots.

The Railway Minister further said that a new Vande Bharat Express will be introduced between Purnea and Patna, and a new Amrit Bharat train will be launched to connect Delhi and Gaya for general class passengers.

The announcement came after Bihar NDA leaders met Vaishnaw in the national capital to review railway arrangements for the upcoming Diwali and Chhath festivals. The leaders presented the state’s urgent connectivity needs, while the Minister assured them of several important railway projects to enhance Bihar’s rail network.

Earlier this month, the ministry rolled out an experimental “Round Trip Package for Festival Rush" scheme to ease congestion and improve travel experience during the upcoming festive season.

According to the notification, the Indian Railways will offer a 20 per cent rebate on the base fare of the return journey for passengers booking a round trip starting October 13. The scheme applies to onward travel between October 13 and 26, with the return journey falling between November 17 and December 1. Diwali falls on October 21 and Chhath Pooja on October 28, followed by the peak wedding season.

The scheme aims to spread out passenger traffic during the festive season by incentivising early and structured booking of both onward and return journeys. It encourages balanced utilisation of trains from both directions during periods when one-way demand is much higher.

(With inputs from agencies)

Shobhit Gupta

Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben...Read More

Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben...

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August 20, 2025, 22:46 IST

News india Railways Announces To Operate 12,000+ Special Trains For Bihar During Diwali, Chhath Festivals

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