As the festive season reaches its peak with Chhath Puja, Indian Railways has announced special unreserved trains to manage the heavy passenger rush to Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. Here is a guide to these crucial services for last-minute travellers.
Why These Special Trains Matter
Chhath
Puja, a major festival in Bihar, Jharkhand, and eastern Uttar Pradesh, sees one of the largest annual migrations of people in India. Millions travel from metropolitan and industrial hubs back to their hometowns to celebrate with family. This creates an immense demand for train tickets, with regular services often fully booked weeks or even months in advance. To address this surge, various railway zones, including Eastern, Northern, and South Central Railways, operate special services. The focus on 'unreserved' trains is particularly important, as it caters to passengers who could not secure a reserved ticket and need to make last-minute travel plans. These trains allow travellers to buy tickets at the station just before departure, offering a vital lifeline during this busy period.
Key Unreserved Services from West Bengal
Eastern Railway has announced several fully unreserved special trains originating from Kolkata and Sealdah to clear the festive rush. These services are scheduled for single trips in mid-November, directly targeting the Chhath Puja travel dates. Each train is equipped with 18 general second-class coaches and two SLRD coaches, maximizing capacity for unreserved passengers. Key services include: Sealdah to Jaynagar (03137/03138): This train departs Sealdah on November 13 and travels to Jaynagar in Bihar, a key destination for the festival. The return journey is scheduled for November 14. Sealdah to Ballia (03139/03140): Connecting Sealdah with Ballia in Uttar Pradesh, this service runs on November 11, with the return trip on November 12. Kolkata to Gorakhpur (03141/03142): This train will depart from Kolkata station on November 13 for Gorakhpur in UP, another high-demand route. The return service is on November 14. Other unreserved specials have also been announced from Howrah to destinations like Patna, Muzaffarpur, and Gorakhpur.
Other Special Trains to Bihar and UP
While the headline focuses on unreserved trains, Indian Railways has also launched numerous reserved 'Festival Special' trains from major cities like Delhi, Chandigarh, Mumbai, and Bengaluru. Northern Railway alone has planned over 6,200 special train trips to manage the demand. Routes like Chandigarh-Patna, Anand Vihar-Muzaffarpur, and New Delhi-Varanasi are part of this massive operation. Although these are mostly reserved services, they often include additional general coaches to accommodate more passengers. Travellers are advised to check the NTES app or the official Indian Railways website for information on these trains, as some may have vacant berths even at short notice.
Booking Unreserved Tickets: Tips for Travellers
For these special unreserved trains, tickets can be purchased at the railway station counters. However, to avoid long queues, passengers can use the official UTS (Unreserved Ticketing System) mobile application. The app allows you to book paperless tickets for immediate travel, typically within a short window before the journey commences. To use the app, you need to register with your mobile number. For paperless tickets, you must be within the vicinity of the station but not on the tracks or inside a train, as the app uses GPS for verification. Alternatively, some stations offer a QR code scanning option for booking. You can also book a paper ticket through the app and print it from an ATVM machine at the station. Remember, a screenshot of a mobile ticket is not considered valid; the ticket must be shown within the UTS app on the phone used for booking.
