By Kavita Mistry 
In a major move to handle the heavy festive rush, the Indian Railways (IR) has introduced five pairs of Festival Special trains for passengers traveling to Bihar during Diwali and Chhath Puja 2025. The initiative aims to create additional capacity and ensure smooth travel for thousands of home-bound passengers.
Routes and Schedule Details
The special trains will run between Firozpur, Ludhiana, Katihar, Supaul, and Patna, covering major stations in northern and eastern India.
- Firozpur–Patna Express (04602/04601): Runs every Wednesday from Firozpur and every Thursday from Patna between October 22 and November 20, 2025.
- Ludhiana–Supaul Express (04656/04655): Temporary service operating October 22–25, 2025, with three trips in each direction.
- Ludhiana–Katihar Express (04658/04657): Departs October 22 from Ludhiana and October 24 from Katihar.
- Ludhiana–Katihar Express (04660/04659): Operates October 23 and 25, providing extra sleeper and general coaches.
- Ludhiana–Patna Express (04664/04663): Runs October 24 from Ludhiana and October 26 from Patna.
Major Stoppages Across States
These trains will halt at important junctions including Ambala Cantt, Saharanpur, Moradabad, Bareilly, Lucknow, Varanasi, Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Jn, Buxar, Ara, Danapur, Patna, and Katihar. Intermediate stops such as Chhapra, Gorakhpur, and Hajipur will further enhance connectivity for passengers across Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
Variety of Coach Classes
Depending on the route, the trains will feature AC, Sleeper, and General Second Class coaches to cater to diverse passenger segments. The inclusion of reserved and unreserved options is expected to ease overcrowding during the festive season.
Railways’ Festive Preparedness
The Northern Railway has emphasized that the move is part of a broader effort to expand capacity, manage passenger flow, and reduce congestion on high-demand routes. With ticket demand peaking before Diwali, these additional trains are expected to provide much-needed relief to travellers heading home to Bihar.