Festive Rush Relief as Special Train Connects Ranchi and Purnia Court for Diwali and Chhath South Eastern Railway has introduced a festival special train between Ranchi and Purnia Court to tackle passenger congestion during Diwali and Chhath Puja, scheduling three round trips throughout November. To accommodate the surge of passengers returning home for Diwali and Chhath Puja, railway authorities have introduced an additional transit option between Jharkhand and Bihar. Festive demand routinely leads to fully booked berths and exhausting waiting lists across regular passenger routes. Addressing this annual commuter strain, South Eastern Railway has approved a festival special train linking Ranchi with Purnia Court to provide dedicated seats and smoother travel throughout the peak holiday period. Three Weekly Round Trips Slated for November Official operational directives issued on October 30, 2026, outline the timetable for train numbers 08625 and 08626, operating as the Ranchi-Purnia Court-Ranchi Special. The service will execute three round trips across November, structured specifically around the festive calendar to facilitate timely arrivals for celebrations. Services originating from Jharkhand under train number 08625 will depart Ranchi every Friday from November 6 through November 20, 2026. Conversely, the return leg operated by train number 08626 will start from Purnia Court every Saturday, spanning from November 7 to November 21, 2026. Timetable and Operational Timings According to the notified schedule, train number 08625 will start its journey from Ranchi every Friday at 6:00 PM. Travelling overnight across the regional network, it will pull into Purnia Court the following day, Saturday, at 11:30 AM. For the return journey, train number 08626 is scheduled to leave Purnia Court on Saturday afternoons at 3:00 PM. It will reach Ranchi the next morning, Sunday, at 9:45 AM. This overnight schedule allows passengers to travel comfortably without losing an entire working day on either side of the journey. Designated Halts Along the Route The festival service connects significant mining hubs, pilgrimage destinations, and transit junctions across both states. Key stops include Muri, Bokaro Steel City, Chandrapura, Katrasgarh, and Dhanbad before traversing Jasidih, Madhupur, Deoghar, Banka, Bhagalpur, Sultanganj, Bariarpur, Munger, Khagaria, Mansi, Saharsa, Dauram Madhepura, and Banmankhi, alongside other intermediate locations. Composition of 22 ICF Coaches and On-Board Amenities To maximize seating capacity, the train will run with an assembly of 22 ICF coaches. The rake incorporates sleeper class, unreserved general seating, and air-conditioned accommodation to suit diverse passenger preferences. Railway teams will also ensure routine amenities such as adequate drinking water and sanitation across the run. The arrangement provides meaningful travel relief, especially for individuals and working families based around Ranchi heading to Bihar for cultural celebrations. What this means for you This festive special train creates extra reserved capacity and unreserved travel options for commuters moving between Jharkhand and Bihar during major festivals. • Ticket Availability: The addition of a 22-coach train eases the heavy waiting lists seen on regular regional services. Passengers can choose between unreserved general coaches, sleeper berths, and air-conditioned accommodation. • Schedule Advantage: Departing Ranchi at 6:00 PM and reaching Purnia Court at 11:30 AM the next day optimizes travel time. It enables festival-goers to arrive safely before ceremonies begin without spending daytime hours stuck in transit. • Across Jharkhand: Industrial commuters in Ranchi, Bokaro Steel City, and Dhanbad gain a direct link to the Kosi and Seemanchal regions of Bihar. This eliminates the necessity of taking multi-leg journeys across intermediate junctions. • Across Bihar: Residents from Bhagalpur, Munger, Saharsa, and Purnia obtain a dependable return schedule arriving in Ranchi by 9:45 AM on Sunday. This ensures working professionals can resume their duties promptly after the festive break. Why this happened The annual travel rush surrounding Diwali and Chhath Puja consistently overburdens transit corridors connecting Jharkhand and Bihar. Standard services become fully booked months in advance, leaving large numbers of commuters without confirmed berths. • Surging Festive Demand: A substantial population of migrant workers, students, and families travel simultaneously during this seasonal window. Existing line capacities cannot comfortably absorb this sharp spike in passenger volumes without dedicated arrangements. • South Eastern Railway Interventions: To mitigate congestion, South Eastern Railway issued orders on October 30, 2026, to activate an extra rake. Allocating a 22-coach train for three targeted weekly rotations directly relieves regional route congestion. • Affordable Transit Alternative: Festive road transport often encounters heavy road traffic and inflated bus fares. Running special trains provides an economical, safe, and high-capacity alternative for middle-income and working-class passengers. Questions & Answers 1. What are the train numbers for the Ranchi-Purnia Court special service? The service operates as train number 08625 from Ranchi and as train number 08626 on its return journey from Purnia Court. 2. What are the operational dates for this festival train? Train number 08625 runs every Friday from November 6 to November 20, 2026, while train number 08626 departs every Saturday from November 7 to November 21, 2026. 3. How many trips will the special train make? The railway directive states that the train will operate three round trips in each direction across November. 4. What are the departure and arrival timings for the service? It leaves Ranchi on Fridays at 6:00 PM to reach Purnia Court at 11:30 AM on Saturdays, and departs Purnia Court on Saturdays at 3:00 PM, reaching Ranchi at 9:45 AM on Sundays. 5. What coach classes are included in the train rake? The rake features 22 ICF coaches consisting of unreserved general, sleeper, and air-conditioned classes. 6. Which major stations are included on its route? Key halts include Muri, Bokaro Steel City, Chandrapura, Katrasgarh, Dhanbad, Jasidih, Madhupur, Deoghar, Banka, Bhagalpur, Sultanganj, Bariarpur, Munger, Khagaria, Mansi, Saharsa, Dauram Madhepura, and Banmankhi. https://trendkia.com/en/national/tyohari-sijana-men-ghara-jana-asana-ranchi-aura-purnia-court-ke-bicha-tina-pheron-ke-lie-nai-puja-speshala-53854 TrendKia — Har trend, sabse pehle.