# Railways Announces Festival Special Train Between Ludhiana and Purnia Ahead of Rush

> To manage heavy passenger turnout during upcoming festivals, Northern Railway will operate reserved special express trains connecting Punjab and Bihar via Uttar Pradesh.

**Type:** article · **Category:** Business · **Published:** 2026-11-01 · **Source:** TrendKia
**Canonical:** https://trendkia.com/en/business/tyohari-sijana-men-relave-ki-saugata-ludhiana-aura-purnia-ke-bicha-dauregi-arakshita-speshala-trena-54429 · **Language:** English
**Tags:** Indian Railways, Festival Special Train, Ludhiana Junction, Purnia Junction, Railway Schedule, Northern Railway

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.

## What this means for you
Passengers traveling home during the festive rush gain a dedicated travel option with guaranteed seat reservations.

- **Seat Availability:** Migrant workers and families in Punjab and Haryana gain extra reserved berths during peak dates. This directly eases the pressure on heavily waitlisted regular express services.
- **Direct Connectivity:** Routing via Uttar Pradesh and North Bihar links intermediate districts without needing a transit via Patna. Travelers heading to Chhapra, Barauni, Saharsa, and Sitapur can board without multiple train changes.
- **Travel Planning:** The transit takes roughly 31 to 33 hours across both directions. Commuters can schedule their journeys around the designated departure windows between November 5 and November 10.
- **Station Verification:** The rake will run with 21 coaches under electric traction. Commuters should verify platform and schedule changes on NTES prior to heading to the station.

## Why this happened
The special train was introduced to handle the seasonal migration surge from Punjab and Haryana towards eastern India.

- **Festive Travel Surge:** Demand on trains bound for Bihar spikes sharply during peak holidays, causing regular services to exhaust all reserved seats. Operating special trains provides crucial additional capacity on high-density corridors.
- **Bypassing Saturated Tracks:** The main line via Patna experiences severe train congestion during holiday weeks. Routing through Sitapur, Gorakhpur, and Saharsa distributes traffic across alternative regional tracks.
- **Administrative Clearance:** Northeast Frontier Railway's operations headquarters at Maligaon reviewed passenger demand and cleared the run on October 30, 2026. This allowed Northern Railway to coordinate timings and roll out the two round trips.

## Questions & Answers

### 1. On which dates will the train operate from Ludhiana to Purnia?
Train number 04660 will depart from Ludhiana on November 5 and November 9, 2026, at 12:00 PM.

### 2. What are the return dates for the train departing from Purnia?
Train number 04659 will start its journey from Purnia on November 6 and November 10, 2026, at 11:30 PM.

### 3. How many coaches are attached to this special train?
The special train will run with 21 coaches and will be hauled by an electric locomotive.

### 4. What is the expected running time between Ludhiana and Purnia?
The train is scheduled to take approximately 33 hours and 30 minutes to travel from Ludhiana to Purnia.

### 5. Does this train pass through Patna Junction?
No, it bypasses Patna and operates via alternative routes including Gorakhpur, Chhapra, Sonpur, Hajipur, and Saharsa.

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