Durga Puja Travel Squeeze: Ranchi Trains to Bihar, Delhi and Jammu Flooded with Waitlists

Bihar‑bound Services Swamped with Waiting Passengers

Seat demand for trains heading to Bihar has surged dramatically. On 17 October, the Ranchi‑Patna Vande Bharat Express (train 22350) records 57 passengers on the Chair Car waitlist and 11 in Executive Class. The Jan Shatabdi Express (12366) shows 84 hopefuls in Second Sitting and 27 in Chair Car.

The Hatia‑Purnia Court Express (18626) already has a 110‑person queue for Second Sitting, while its sleeper bookings have turned into ‘Regret’. Third AC Economy carries a wait of 21, and Third AC 43. For 18 October, the sleeper waitlist climbs to 64 and Third AC to 21.

Similarly, the Hatia‑Islampur Express (18624) lists 82 passengers waiting for Sleeper, 21 in Third AC Economy, 48 in Third AC and 29 in Second AC for the 17th. The Hatia‑Patna Pataliputra Express (18622) reports 80 in Sleeper, 30 in Third AC and 12 in Second AC.

From Sambalpur, the Maurya Express (15027) has 78 sleepers and 28 Third AC on the waiting list, while the Rourkela‑Jaynagar Express (18105) shows 47 in Third AC and 18 in Second AC for 18 October.

Delhi and Jammu Corridors Feel the Strain

Getting a confirmed berth to New Delhi is equally challenging. The Ranchi‑New Delhi Rajdhani (20839) lists 161 passengers in Third AC and 30 in Second AC waiting for 17 October. Another Rajdhani (12453) shows 35 in Third AC and 28 in Second AC for the 18th.

The Hatia‑Anand Vihar Terminal Express (12817) carries a waiting list of 72 in Sleeper, 20 in Third AC and 11 in Second AC for 18 October.

Travelers bound for Jammu encounter similar bottlenecks. On the Sambalpur‑Jammu Tawi Express (18309), the 17 October waitlist stands at 148 in Sleeper and 110 in Third AC, with Second AC already marked ‘Regret’.

Festival‑Specific Specials Still Overwhelmed

Railways have rolled out special trains to absorb the festive surge, yet seat availability remains uneven. The Ranchi‑Anand Vihar Terminal Special (02877) shows waiting lists of 52 in Sleeper and 18 in Third AC for 17 October, and 69 in Sleeper and 52 in Third AC for 24 October, while Second AC is at ‘Regret’.

The Hatia‑SMVT Bengaluru Special (08637) records 46 sleepers, 20 Third AC Economy and 17 Third AC waiting for 21 October, with a modest 19‑person sleeper waitlist for 4 November.

A Few Specials Offer Relief

Despite the overall crunch, some special services still have capacity. The Ranchi‑Shalimar Special (08616) provides 180 vacant sleeper berths on 21 October, plus a RAC of 13 in Third AC.

The Ranchi‑Ajmer Special (09620) shows a modest sleeper waitlist of 22 for 18 October, with seats opening on later dates. Most berths on the Ranchi‑Alipurduar Special (08661) remain free throughout the rest of October and the first week of November.

On the Hatia‑Lokmanya Tilak Terminus Special (08609), sleeper‑class waitlists hover between 16 and 18 passengers for 19 October and 26 October, while Third AC still has ample availability.

Travel tip: With confirmed tickets scarce during Durga Puja, always double‑check seat availability for your chosen train and date before booking. Opting for less‑crowded special services can markedly improve your odds of securing a confirmed berth.