Railway authorities have introduced a reserved festival special express service connecting the industrial hub of Punjab with Bihar to clear peak travel queues ahead of the festive season. Scheduled under the coordination of Northern Railway, this dedicated service will operate between Ludhiana and Purnia Junction. Instead of traveling through the crowded Patna route, the service will pass through several prominent towns across Uttar Pradesh, providing vital connectivity for passengers travelling between Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar.
Operating Schedule and Service Dates
Under the planned timetable, train number 04660 will depart from Ludhiana on November 5, 2026, and November 9, 2026. In the reverse direction, train number 04659 will begin its run from Purnia on November 6, 2026, and November 10, 2026. The service has been allotted two round trips in total. The formal operational directive was issued on October 30, 2026, by the General Manager (Operations) office of Northeast Frontier Railway based in Maligaon to accommodate the surge in holiday bookings.
Departure Timings and Route Details
Departing Ludhiana Junction at 12:00 PM, train number 04660 will first halt at Dhandari Kalan and Sanehwal in Punjab, before heading into Haryana through Ambala Cantt and Yamunanagar Jagadhri. The train then proceeds across Uttar Pradesh with scheduled stops at Saharanpur, Moradabad, Bareilly, Shahjahanpur, Sitapur Junction, Burhwal, Gonda, Basti, Gorakhpur, Deoria Sadar, and Bhatni before crossing into Bihar.
Inside Bihar, the train will cater to passengers across Siwan, Chhapra, Chhapra Rural, Sonpur, Hajipur, Shahpur Patori, Bachhwara, Barauni, Begusarai, Khagaria, Mansi, Saharsa, and Banmankhi before concluding its run at Purnia Junction. The journey from Ludhiana to Purnia is scheduled to take approximately 33 hours and 30 minutes, arriving at its destination at 9:30 PM.
Return Schedule and Coach Configuration
For the return trip, train number 04659 will leave Purnia Junction at 11:30 PM. Clocking an estimated running duration of around 31 hours and 20 minutes, the train will reach Ludhiana Junction the following day at 6:50 AM. The train will consist of 21 coaches and will be powered by an electric locomotive. Travelers planning their journeys have been advised to verify real-time platform allocations and arrival schedules on the National Train Enquiry System (NTES) or the official railway website prior to boarding.
