Railways extends special train services to manage summer rush

Patna: In view of the increasing passenger load during the peak summer travel season, the railways has decided to extend services of several pairs of special trains operating on major routes under the jurisdiction of the East Central Railway (ECR) connecting Bihar to Delhi and West Bengal.ECR’s CPRO Saraswati Chandra said the extended services would cover the Barauni-New Delhi route, Darbhanga-New Delhi route and Patna-Howrah route. These special trains will now continue to run till June 1, providing much-needed relief to passengers amid the seasonal surge in travel demand, he said.The CPRO said the decision was taken to manage the heavy rush of passengers, especially students, migrant workers and families travelling during the summer holidays. The extension is expected to ease congestion in regular trains and ensure smoother travel for passengers on the crowded routes, he said.According to sources, the special trains have been witnessing high occupancy since their introduction, prompting railway authorities to continue their operation for a longer duration. Additional coaches and improved onboard services are also being ensured to accommodate the growing number of passengers during the summer period, sources said, adding that passengers have been advised to check the updated schedules and availability before planning their journeys.The railways, however, reiterated its commitment to providing safe, comfortable and convenient travel during the busy summer period. In addition, the railways has also put into operation a Patna-Gaya daily special service till April 6, sources said.