RAJGIR-HARIDWAR SPECIAL TRAIN SERVICE TO BE DISCONTINUED FROM TODAY

30-DEC-ENG 3

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

ARA----------------------------The continuous decisions by Indian Railways to discontinue special trains have caused considerable resentment, especially among pilgrims. Recently, the 03223/03224 Rajgir-Haridwar Special train will also be discontinued from today. The return train (03224) will run for the last time on December 27, 2025. This has come as a major blow to thousands of devotees from Bihar.

Earlier, the operation of the 03221/03222 Rajgir-Shaheed Captain Tushar Mahajan Udhampur Special train had also been terminated. It is believed that the railways are gradually planning to permanently discontinue most of the special trains.

This has multiplied the difficulties for passengers from the Rajgir and Patna regions of Bihar, as these trains provided direct connectivity to major pilgrimage sites. The Rajgir-Haridwar Special train was the only direct train available in the general quota from Patna and Rajgir to Haridwar, and its discontinuation leaves passengers with no reliable alternative.

Passengers say that getting a confirmed seat on regular trains like the Upasana Express and Kumbh Express from Patna is extremely difficult. The waiting list remains long despite booking months in advance. In such a situation, these special trains were the biggest convenience for pilgrims, where there was always 100 percent occupancy and the seats were completely filled on every trip.

Now, with the discontinuation of these trains, elderly people, women, and ordinary devotees are either facing long waiting lists or are forced to opt for expensive and inconvenient alternatives. Besides, passengers going to Mata Vaishno Devi Katra have also suffered a major setback, as there is already a severe shortage of seats on the Archana Express.

With the discontinuation of the Rajgir-Udhampur Special train, devotees now have to travel on longer routes or change multiple trains, affecting their time, money, and convenience. Rail passengers believe that suspending trains with full occupancy is incomprehensible, as it not only goes against the interests of passengers but also harms the railway's revenue. Passengers are demanding that these trains be operated on a regular basis, given the consistent demand and full bookings on this route.