East Coast Railway Extends Special Trains and Augments Coaches to Meet Rising Passenger Demand

Bhubaneswar: To improve passenger convenience and address the surge in travel demand, East Coast Railway (ECoR) has announced the extension of periodicity of key special trains and the augmentation of select train services. The decision is aimed at easing travel during peak periods and ensuring enhanced travel comfort for passengers across major routes.

Extension of Special Trains:

In response to sustained public demand and continued patronage, the East Coast Railway has extended the operation of the following special trains:

• Train No. 02832/02831 Bhubaneswar–Dhanbad Special will now continue to operate until July 31, 2025, from Bhubaneswar, and until August 1, 2025, from Dhanbad.

• Train No. 02839/02840 Shalimar–Puri Special will continue running up to August 31, 2025, from Shalimar, and until September 1, 2025, from Puri.

This extension is expected to provide significant relief to passengers, especially during the festive and holiday season.

Train Augmentation for Passenger Comfort:

To accommodate the increasing number of passengers and enhance onboard comfort, the following train services have been augmented:

• The Secunderabad–Visakhapatnam–Secunderabad Vande Bharat Express (20707/20708) has been increased from 16 to 20 coaches, ensuring more seating capacity and improved travel experience.

• The Rourkela–Gunupur–Rourkela Rajyarani Express (18117/18118) has been augmented with one Sleeper Class coach and one AC 2-Tier coach, addressing the growing demand on this route.

ECoR officials stated that these enhancements have been introduced after reviewing feedback from passengers and assessing load factors on busy routes. The railway authorities also assured that they will continue monitoring passenger trends and take further steps to strengthen services as needed.

Passengers are advised to check the official railway websites or visit nearby stations for detailed train schedules and booking information.