To cope with the heavy surge in travel demand during Dussehra, Diwali and Chhath Puja 2025, Northern Railway will run a festival-special Vande Bharat Express between New Delhi (NDLS) and Patna Junction (PNBE). The service is intended to provide faster, safer and more comfortable travel for passengers heading home for the festivals.
Key Facts & Schedule
| Feature | Details |
| Dates of operation | From 11 October 2025 to 15 November 2025 inclusive. |
| Train numbers | New Delhi → Patna: 02252; Patna → New Delhi: 02251 |
| Frequency | 3 days a week in each direction: • From New Delhi: Mondays, Wednesdays, Saturdays. • From Patna: Tuesdays, Thursdays, Sundays. |
| Departure / Arrival times | • NDLS → PNBE (Train 02252): Departs New Delhi 08:35 AM, arrives Patna 09:30 PM same day. • PNBE → NDLS (Train 02251): Departs Patna 10:00 AM, arrives New Delhi 11:30 PM same day. |
| Stops / Route | Key halts at: Aligarh Junction, Kanpur Central, Prayagraj Junction, Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Junction, Buxar, Ara; start from New Delhi, end at Patna. |
| Journey time | Less than 13 hours. |
| Coach composition & capacity | 16 air-conditioned coaches; includes 2 Executive Class coaches; seating capacity ~1,128 passengers. |
| Fare (approximate) | Chair Car (~AC Chair): INR 2,500; Executive Chair Car: INR 4,600. These figures are estimates as reported in announcements. |
What Makes This Important
- Festival demand: The route between Delhi and Bihar typically sees huge traffic before Diwali and Chhath. This special Vande Bharat addresses that surge in demand while offering a premium and faster option.
- Reduced travel time: With limited halts and high-speed capability, the train offers a considerably quicker journey vs many conventional trains.
- Modern amenities & comfort: Being a Vande Bharat rake, the train offers more comfort and better onboard facilities (though specific amenities for this run are those standard to Vande Bharat services).
Limitations & Things to Confirm
- Meal/catering details: Official announcements do not clearly state whether food is included in the fare or offered onboard.
- Coach count variations: Some sources (esp. local/Hindi media) mention possible use of a 20-coach rake for a related special service (02253/02254). However, the confirmed one (02252/02251) is reliably reported with 16 coaches.
- Exact number of trips/changes: Some reports slightly differ (16 vs 17 trips in specific directions for some special services). But for 02252/02251, the reliable count is 16 trips each direction during this period.
Booking & Passenger Tips
- Tickets to be booked via the IRCTC website or app once booking opens. Because demand is high, early booking is advised.
- Check the class (Chair Car/Executive) and choose seats wisely (executive class has more legroom).
- Arrive well before departure time; Vande Bharat has shorter station halts than regular trains.
- Always confirm the train number (02252/02251), date of travel, and fare from official sources before finalizing the booking.
Summing Up
The festival‐special Vande Bharat service between New Delhi and Patna (Train Nos. 02252/02251) runs from 11 October to 15 November 2025, operating three times a week in both directions. It offers a travel time under 13 hours, modern amenities, limited stops, and fares of roughly INR 2,500 (Chair Car)/INR 4,600 (Executive). For those planning to travel home during the festivals, this offers a faster, more comfortable alternative to standard express trains.
