Northern Railway's Summer Special Train Between Chandigarh and Howrah Sees Overwhelming Response
Northern Railway's recently launched summer special train service connecting Chandigarh and Howrah has received an overwhelming response from passengers, with the inaugural trips departing and arriving at full capacity. This initiative is part of the railway's efforts to manage the increased passenger rush during the summer travel season.
Traffic on Demand Scheme Implementation
A spokesperson for Northern Railway confirmed that the special reserved trains are being operated under the Traffic on Demand (TOD) scheme. This scheme allows the railway to introduce additional services based on passenger demand, particularly during peak periods like summer vacations and holidays.
The railway has scheduled a total of three trips in each direction, providing multiple travel options for passengers moving between northern and eastern India.
Schedule and Capacity Details
The Chandigarh-Howrah Reserved Special Express made its first departure from Chandigarh on April 18, with subsequent departures scheduled for April 22 and April 27. The return service from Howrah commenced on April 20, with additional departures on April 24 and April 29.
Officials at Chandigarh Railway Station reported that the train departed with full capacity on its initial run. The service features two coach categories:
- Sleeper Class with a fare of Rs 885
- Third AC with a fare of Rs 2,195
For the train scheduled to depart on April 22, there is already a waiting list of 45 passengers in Sleeper Class and 34 passengers in Third AC. Similarly, the train that departed from Howrah on Monday reported a waiting list of 57 in Sleeper Class and 43 in Third AC, indicating strong demand in both directions.
Journey Duration and Route Information
The train departing from Chandigarh leaves at 11:45 PM and reaches Howrah at 6:30 AM on the second day, covering the journey in approximately 30 hours and 45 minutes. On the return leg, the train departs from Howrah at 9:00 AM and arrives in Chandigarh at 7:20 PM, taking around 34 hours and 20 minutes.
The special train makes halts at several major stations along the route, including:
- Ambala Cantt
- Saharanpur
- Moradabad
- Bareilly Junction
- Shahjahanpur Junction
- Sultanpur
- Varanasi Junction
- Pt Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Junction (Mughalsarai)
- Gomoh near Dhanbad
- Gaya
- Bandel
- Howrah
Purpose and Expected Benefits
Railway officials emphasized that this initiative is specifically designed to ease travel during the peak summer period by providing additional reserved accommodation for passengers traveling between northern and eastern regions of India.
The introduction of these special services is expected to achieve several important objectives:
- Reduce waiting lists on regular trains
- Offer more confirmed ticket options to passengers
- Strengthen connectivity across key routes
- Provide reliable travel options during high-demand periods
The overwhelming response to the initial trips demonstrates the significant demand for improved rail connectivity between these important regions, particularly during seasonal travel peaks when families often travel for vacations and visits.
