Durga Puja Train Rush: Soaring Waitlists on Ranchi Routes to Bihar, Delhi, and Jammu

Record‑High Waitlists for Bihar‑bound Services

The rush for seats to Bihar has reached unprecedented levels. On 17 October, the Ranchi‑Patna Vande Bharat Express (train 22350) shows 57 passengers waiting for Chair Car and 11 for Executive Class. The Jan Shatabdi Express (12366) has a queue of 84 in Second Sitting and 27 in Chair Car.

The Hatia‑Purnia Court Express (18626) already carries 110 passengers on the Second Sitting waitlist, while its sleeper bookings have turned into ‘Regret’. Third AC Economy is 21 passengers short and Third AC 43. For the 18 October run, sleeper waitlist rises to 64 and Third AC to 21.

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

From Sambalpur, the Maurya Express (15027) has 78 sleepers and 28 Third AC pending, while the Rourkela‑Jaynagar Express (18105) shows 47 Third AC and 18 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 in Third AC and 30 in Second AC waiting for 17 October. Another Rajdhani (12453) shows 35 Third AC and 28 Second AC on the waitlist for the 18th.

The Hatia‑Anand Vihar Terminal Express (12817) has 72 sleepers, 20 Third AC and 11 Second AC waiting for 18 October.

Travelers bound for Jammu encounter similar hurdles. 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

Railways have added special trains to absorb the festive surge, but availability remains patchy. The Ranchi‑Anand Vihar Terminal Special (02877) shows 52 sleepers and 18 Third AC waiting for 17 October, and 69 sleepers with 52 Third AC for 24 October; 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, while the 4 November sleeper waitlist is only 19.

Some Specials Offer a Breather

Despite the overall crunch, a few special services still have capacity. The Ranchi‑Shalimar Special (08616) provides 180 vacant sleeper berths 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 open up 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 waitlists hover between 16 and 18 passengers for 19 and 26 October, while Third AC still has ample seats.

Travel tip: With confirmed tickets in short supply during Durga Puja, always double‑check seat availability for your preferred train and date before booking. Opting for less‑crowded special services can markedly improve your chances of getting a confirmed berth.