The Railways has announced a one-way unreserved festival special train from Ludhiana in Punjab to Samastipur in Bihar to accommodate the increase in passenger traffic during Chhath Puja. Train number 04684 will operate via major railway stations in Uttar Pradesh before reaching Bihar.
The special train is scheduled to depart from Ludhiana at 8 pm. However, different news reports have mentioned November 10 and November 11 as its departure date. Passengers have been advised to verify the confirmed operating date through official railway enquiry channels before travelling.
Following Diwali, passenger traffic from Punjab to Bihar has increased ahead of Chhath Puja. A large number of people travel to their hometowns to celebrate the festival with their families. The resulting increase in demand has put additional pressure on regular train services, making it difficult for passengers to secure seats.
Considering the demand, the Railways has decided to operate an unreserved special train between Ludhiana and Samastipur. The service will operate under the Firozpur Railway Division.
According to information released by the Railways, train number 04684, the Ludhiana-Samastipur Festival Special, will operate as a one-way service. No corresponding return journey from Samastipur to Ludhiana has been scheduled for this special service.
The train will provide unreserved travel facilities, offering an additional option to passengers who are unable to obtain reserved seats on regular trains.
After departing from Ludhiana, the special train will pass through major railway stations in Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh before reaching Bihar.
According to the route information released by the Railways, the train will first stop at Dhandari Kalan. It will subsequently halt at Ambala Cantt and Saharanpur before reaching Moradabad.
Further stops have been scheduled at Bareilly, Shahjahanpur and Lucknow. The train will also halt at Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh, allowing passengers to board and alight at the station.
After entering Bihar, the train will pass through Muzaffarpur before reaching its final destination, Samastipur.
The additional service will provide a travel option for passengers travelling from Punjab to Bihar, as well as those travelling to various cities in Uttar Pradesh.
Passengers should check the detailed arrival and departure timings at individual stations through official railway enquiry channels.
The Ludhiana-Samastipur Special will operate as an unreserved train. Passengers will therefore need to travel with valid general unreserved tickets.
Tickets can be purchased at railway station booking counters. Passengers can also use the digital ticketing facilities available through the Railways.
However, an unreserved ticket does not guarantee an allocated seat. Seating will depend on availability on the train.
Given the expected increase in passenger numbers during Chhath Puja, passengers should verify the train's operating schedule and other service-related information before reaching the station.
A large number of people from Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh work in industrial cities such as Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Amritsar in Punjab. Many of them travel to their hometowns during major festivals.
Chhath Puja is a major religious festival in Bihar and the Purvanchal region. People travel long distances to participate in the celebrations with their families.
The short interval between Diwali and Chhath Puja leads to a sudden increase in passenger demand. Reserved tickets on several regular trains often become unavailable, while general coaches also experience heavy passenger traffic.
To address the additional demand, the Railways operates special trains during the festive season.
The Firozpur Railway Division is also operating other festival special trains to different destinations in Bihar. These include services announced for Darbhanga, Saharsa and other destinations.
There is a discrepancy in the departure date of train number 04684 across available news reports. Some reports state that the train is scheduled to depart at 8 pm on November 10, while others mention November 11.
Passengers should not rely solely on the departure date mentioned in news reports. They should enter train number 04684 into the Railways' official enquiry system to confirm its operating schedule.
Passengers can use the National Train Enquiry System website or contact railway helpline number 139 for further information.
The operation of special trains during Chhath Puja depends on passenger demand and railway requirements. Passengers are therefore advised to confirm the train's availability and departure timings before commencing their journey.
