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

Bihar‑bound services hit unprecedented waitlists

The rush for seats to Bihar has surged dramatically. On 17 October the Ranchi‑Patna Vande Bharat Express (train 22350) shows a waiting list of 57 passengers in Chair Car and 11 in Executive Class. The Jan Shatabdi Express (12366) is carrying 84 hopefuls in Second Sitting and 27 in Chair Car.

The Hatia‑Purnia Court Express (18626) already has 110 passengers queued for Second Sitting, while its sleeper bookings have turned into ‘Regret’. Third AC Economy is waiting for 21 travellers and Third AC for 43. For the 18 October run, sleeper‑class waitlist climbs to 64 and Third AC to 21.

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

From Sambalpur, the Maurya Express (15027) has 78 sleeper and 28 Third AC passengers 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

Securing a confirmed berth to New Delhi is equally challenging. The Ranchi‑New Delhi Rajdhani (20839) lists 161 passengers waiting in Third AC and 30 in Second AC 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 sleepers, 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 sleepers and 110 in Third AC, with Second AC already marked ‘Regret’.

Festival specials struggle to keep up

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

The Hatia‑SMVT Bengaluru Special (08637) lists 46 sleepers, 20 Third AC Economy and 17 Third AC on the 21 October waitlist, while the 4 November sleeper queue is 19.

A few specials still offer relief

Amid the overall crunch, several special services retain vacant berths. The Ranchi‑Shalimar Special (08616) provides 180 open sleeper seats on 21 October, with a RAC of 13 in Third AC.

The Ranchi‑Ajmer Special (09620) shows a modest sleeper waitlist of 22 for 18 October, but seats become available on later dates. Most berths on the Ranchi‑Alipurduar Special (08661) stay free throughout the remainder 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 and 26 October, while Third AC continues to have ample space.

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