Ferozepur, October 19, 2025: To manage the surge in passenger traffic during the upcoming festive season, Northern Railway has announced the operation of five pairs of Festival Special Express trains. These temporary services will connect major cities including Firozpur, Ludhiana, Patna, Katihar, and Supaul, ensuring smoother travel during the high-demand period.
The longest-running of these is the 04602/04601 Firozpur Cantt–Patna Jn Reserved Festival Special Express, scheduled for five trips from each end. Train No. 04602 will depart Firozpur every Wednesday from October 22 to November 19 at 15:10 hrs and reach Patna at 18:00 hrs the next day. The return service, Train No. 04601, will leave Patna every Thursday from October 23 to November 20 at 20:50 hrs. The train includes AC, Sleeper, and General Second Class coaches, with major stops at Ludhiana (reversal point), Ambala Cantt, Moradabad, Lucknow, Varanasi, and Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Jn.
Ludhiana will also serve as the starting point for four other festival specials bound for Bihar. Among them, the 04656/04655 Ludhiana–Supaul Unreserved Festival Special Express will operate three trips each way. Train No. 04656 will depart Ludhiana on October 22, 23, and 24 at 11:30 hrs, while its return service, Train No. 04655, will leave Supaul on October 23, 24, and 25 at 23:00 hrs. This train will operate with unreserved General Second Class coaches.
Additionally, two one-time reserved special services—04658 and 04660 Ludhiana–Katihar Reserved Festival Special Express—are scheduled to run on October 22 and 23, departing at 23:35 hrs and 16:50 hrs, respectively. Both will have Sleeper and Second Class accommodations.
Another service, the 04664/04663 Ludhiana–Patna Jn Reserved Festival Special Express, will make a single trip in each direction. Train No. 04664 will leave Ludhiana on October 24 at 20:20 hrs, while the return train (04663) will depart Patna on October 26 at 01:00 hrs.
“These special services are being launched to accommodate the increased passenger load during the festive season and to provide safe, convenient travel options,” said Himanshu Shekar Upadhyay, Chief Public Relations Officer, Northern Railway.
