To accommodate the anticipated surge in passenger traffic during the upcoming festive season, Northern Railway’s Jammu division is set to introduce three special trains. These services will connect key destinations including Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra, Jammu Tawi, Varanasi, and New Delhi, commencing next month.
The Chenab Times has learned that the operation of these reserved festival special trains is intended to alleviate the extra rush and address waiting list issues during major festivals such as Dussehra, Diwali, and Chhath Puja. Railway officials described the decision as a significant benefit for rail passengers, aiming to ensure more confirmed tickets and a comfortable, safe travel experience.
The first special service, identified as 04604/04603, will operate between Katra and Varanasi, making nine trips in each direction. The train departing from Katra is scheduled to run every Sunday from October 4 to November 29, departing at 6:15 PM. Conversely, the service from Varanasi will depart every Tuesday from October 6 to December 1, at 4:30 AM. This train will make stops at various stations, including Jammu Tawi, Pathankot Cantt, Jalandhar Cantt, Ludhiana, Ambala Cantt, Saharanpur, Moradabad, Bareilly, Alamnagar, Rae Bareli, and Pratapgarh.
The second special train, 04610/04609, will run between Jammu Tawi and Varanasi, also completing nine trips in each direction. Train number 04610 is slated to operate every Thursday from October 1 to November 26. Its counterpart, train 04609, will run every Friday from October 2 to November 27. This service is expected to enhance connectivity for passengers travelling from Pathankot, Jalandhar, Ambala, Saharanpur, Moradabad, Shahjahanpur, Lucknow, and Sultanpur.
In addition to these services, a third festival special train, 04081/04082, will operate between New Delhi and Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra. This train is scheduled for four trips in each direction, specifically to manage the rush anticipated during the Dussehra period. Train 04081 will be in service on October 8, 9, 10, and 11, while train 04082 will run on October 9, 10, 11, and 12. This service aims to provide direct connectivity between the national capital and Katra.
Railway authorities stated that these special trains will directly link two prominent religious destinations in North India, offering commuters from Delhi, Haryana, and Punjab faster and more direct travel options. The introduction of these services is expected to ease the pressure on regular trains and provide much-needed relief to passengers facing difficulties in securing tickets during the peak festival season.
The Chenab Times News Desk