Durga Puja Travel Squeeze: Ranchi Trains to Bihar, Delhi and Jammu Hit Record Waitlists

Rising Waitlists on Bihar‑bound Services

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

The Hatia‑Purnia Court Express (18626) already has a Second Sitting waitlist of 110, while its sleeper quota has turned into a ‘Regret’ status. Third AC Economy is backed up by 21 passengers and Third AC by 43. For the 18 October run, the sleeper waitlist climbs to 64 and Third AC to 21.

Similarly, the Hatia‑Islampur Express (18624) records 82 sleepers, 21 Third AC Economy, 48 Third AC and 29 Second AC on the 17 October waitlist. The Hatia‑Patna Pataliputra Express (18622) shows 80 sleepers, 30 Third AC and 12 Second AC waiting.

From Sambalpur, the Maurya Express (15027) lists 78 sleeper and 28 Third AC requests, while the Rourkela‑Jaynagar Express (18105) has 47 passengers in Third AC and 18 in Second AC for the 18 October service.

Delhi and Jammu Corridors Feel the Strain

Getting a confirmed berth to New Delhi is equally challenging. The Ranchi‑New Delhi Rajdhani (20839) reports 161 passengers on the Third AC waitlist and 30 on the Second AC list 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) has 72 sleepers, 20 Third AC and 11 Second AC waiting for the 18 October departure.

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

Festival Specials Struggle to Keep Up

Railway authorities have rolled out special trains to soak up the festive surge, yet seat availability remains patchy. The Ranchi‑Anand Vihar Terminal Special (02877) shows 52 sleeper and 18 Third AC waitlisted for 17 October, and 69 sleeper plus 52 Third AC for 24 October, while Second AC is at ‘Regret’.

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

Some Specials Still Offer Space

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

The Ranchi‑Ajmer Special (09620) has a relatively small sleeper waitlist of 22 for 18 October, and additional 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 waitlists hover between 16 and 18 passengers for 19 and 26 October, while Third AC continues to have ample availability.

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