Indian Railways has announced unreserved summer special trains connecting Chhapra in Bihar and Anand Vihar Terminal in Delhi. These services are tailored to provide budget-friendly, no-frills travel during the peak holiday season, especially for passengers relying on general-class compartments.
Two services in each direction are scheduled for the month of July. The Chhapra–Anand Vihar train (05317) will depart from Chhapra at 7:45 PM on July 5 and 12 and reach Delhi at 12:30 PM the following day. In return, the Anand Vihar–Chhapra service (05318) will depart at 3 PM on July 6 and 13, reaching its destination at 10 AM the next day. These fully general, unreserved trains are aimed at supporting migration, labour movement, and low-cost inter-state travel. The route strategically covers vital stations across Uttar Pradesh and Bihar including Gorakhpur, Gonda, Kanpur, and Moradabad, ensuring widespread regional access.
Officials said the measure addresses the chronic overcrowding that characterises holiday-season travel, particularly in North India where demand often outpaces availability. With airfares remaining unaffordable for a large section of India’s population, these trains offer critical last-mile connectivity for workers, students, and families. The introduction of such short-term, high-capacity services also aligns with Indian Railways’ broader mobility agenda—focusing on operational efficiency, affordability, and equity in transport access. Despite being temporary, such services reflect an adaptive public transport approach, responding to regional demand patterns in real time.
These trains may not offer the comforts of air-conditioned travel, but they symbolise a larger commitment to ensure mobility for all during peak transit windows. Officials have reiterated that, based on public response and logistical feasibility, more such services could be introduced across similar corridors in the future.
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