With Diwali and Chhath Puja approaching, people from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar working across Delhi, Noida, Gurugram, and Ghaziabad have begun preparations to travel home with their families. High passenger volume during the festive window led to regular trains getting booked out within minutes of booking opening, leaving extensive waiting lists. To ease the transit load and provide confirmed accommodations, Indian Railways has announced a festive special train running between Anand Vihar in Delhi and Chhapra in Bihar.
Operating Period Spans October Through November
The festival service is scheduled to operate from 6 October to 25 November, executing 8 round trips in total. The departure from Anand Vihar toward Chhapra will run every Wednesday starting 7 October through 25 November. On the return journey, the train will depart Chhapra toward Anand Vihar every Tuesday between 6 October and 24 November.
Timetable and Journey Timings
According to the announced timetable, train number 05086 Anand Vihar to Chhapra Special will leave Anand Vihar terminal every Wednesday at 10.50 AM, reaching Chhapra at 07.00 AM the following morning. On the return leg, train number 05085 Chhapra to Anand Vihar Special will depart Chhapra every Tuesday at 01.05 PM and arrive at Anand Vihar at 09.40 AM the next day.
Extensive Stoppages Across Uttar Pradesh and Bihar
To serve maximum passenger hubs en route, the train has scheduled commercial halts in both directions at Ghaziabad, Moradabad, Bareilly, Shahjahanpur, Sitapur, Burhwal, Gonda, Basti, Khalilabad, Gorakhpur, Kaptanganj, Ramkola, Padrauna, Thawe, Dighwa Dubauli, and Mashrakh railway stations. This stoppage pattern directly connects travellers headed toward both eastern Uttar Pradesh districts and adjoining Bihar areas.
Coach Composition of 22 Berths Across Multiple Classes
The train will run with a total of 22 coaches designed to accommodate diverse passenger preferences. The composition comprises 1 First AC cum Second AC coach, 2 Second AC coaches, 6 Third AC coaches, 2 Third Economy AC coaches, 5 Sleeper class coaches, and 4 General unreserved coaches. Travellers seeking further scheduling or booking details can call helpline number 139 or check the NTES website.
