New Delhi: Indian Railways has made significant strides in luxury train travel with the introduction of the Vande Bharat Express, widely appreciated for providing airline-like comfort on rails. In a short span, these elite trains have become a preferred choice on busy routes across India. As a special Diwali gift to its passengers, Indian Railways is launching the longest Vande Bharat service yet, covering the distance between Delhi and Patna, starting on October 30.
This new Vande Bharat Express will cover a total distance of 1,000 kilometers, surpassing the previous record held by the Delhi-Varanasi route, which covered 771 kilometers. According to the IRCTC, the Delhi-Patna Vande Bharat Express will take approximately 11 hours and 35 minutes to complete its journey. This puts it on par with other long-distance trains such as the Dibrugarh Rajdhani and Tejas Rajdhani, which have similar travel times between Delhi and Patna.
The Vande Bharat service will run thrice a week: from Delhi to Patna on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays, and from Patna to Delhi on Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. The train will depart from Delhi at 8:25 AM and reach Patna by 8 PM. The return journey from Patna will begin at 7:30 AM and conclude in Delhi by 7 PM.
Unlike traditional trains, the New Delhi-Patna Vande Bharat service offers only chair car seating options, with no sleeper class available. Passengers can choose between an AC chair car ticket priced at Rs 2,575 or an executive chair car option costing Rs 4,655. The train will make stops at key stations, including Kanpur Central, Prayagraj Junction, Deendyal Upadhyay Junction, Buxar, Ara Junction, before reaching Patna.
This new service is expected to enhance travel experiences during the festive season, offering passengers a quicker and more comfortable option for their Diwali journeys.
