The Northeast Railway has announced temporary operational changes to help millions of pilgrims travelling to the Magh Mela in Prayagraj. Several express trains connecting Ballia and nearby districts will receive two‑minute halts at Jhusi and Prayagraj Rambagh on selected dates in January and February 2026, enabling easier access to the main bathing ghats.
Ballia Prayagraj Magh Mela trains get extra halts in Jhusi and Rambagh
The short halts have been scheduled to coincide with peak pilgrimage days. Railway authorities said the arrangement will allow passengers from Ballia, Mau, Deoria and other parts of Purvanchal to disembark closer to the Magh Mela area, reducing onward travel time and easing local congestion.
Key services affected include the 22581 Ballia–New Delhi Express, which will call at Jhusi and Prayagraj Rambagh on 13 and 14 January 2026, and the return service 22582 New Delhi–Ballia Express, which will halt on 12, 13, 19 and 20 January 2026. The 22427 Ballia–Anand Vihar Terminal Express will have additional halts on 4, 18 and 25 January and on 1 and 15 February 2026, while 22428 Anand Vihar Terminal–Ballia Express will be affected on 3, 17, 24 and 31 January and on 14 February 2026.
Rail officials emphasised that the two‑minute stops are temporary and designed purely to facilitate passenger movement during the mela. They added that the selected stations—Jhusi and Prayagraj Rambagh—are among the closest railheads to the main bathing ghats frequently used by visiting devotees.
Additional express services serving eastern Bihar and surrounding areas will also see similar temporary halts on various dates between January and February. These include routes such as the 11062 Jaynagar–Lokmanya Tilak Terminus Express and the 14005/14006 Sitamarhi–Anand Vihar Terminal Express. Services like the 12561/12562 Jaynagar–New Delhi Express, and other long‑distance trains linking Darbhanga, Raxaul and Lokmanya Tilak Terminus have been listed for the facility where operationally feasible.
Local officials and community leaders welcomed the move, saying it will significantly reduce the burden on road transport and local transit systems. “Pilgrims often face long journeys from Ballia and neighbouring districts to reach the ghats,” one local organiser said. “These short rail halts will cut travel time and help manage large flows of people more safely.”
Railway authorities reminded passengers to check official timetables and notifications before travel as the temporary halts apply only on the specified dates. The halts are brief, so passengers are advised to be ready to disembark and to follow station announcements and guidance from railway staff and mela organisers.
Operational preparedness for the Magh Mela typically involves coordination between Indian Railways, local police, and municipal agencies to handle crowd management, sanitation and emergency services. The addition of these halts forms part of a broader set of measures aimed at ensuring a smoother pilgrimage experience while maintaining overall train punctuality and safety.
For pilgrims planning to travel from Ballia and nearby districts, the temporary halts at Jhusi and Prayagraj Rambagh represent a practical improvement, providing more direct access to bathing ghats and easing onward connections during one of India’s largest religious gatherings.
Key Takeaways:
- Indian Railways will grant temporary two‑minute halts at Jhusi and Prayagraj Rambagh to ease pilgrim travel.
- Measures affect several Ballia-linked express services on key January–February 2026 dates.
- Direct access from Ballia, Mau and Deoria will improve pilgrim flow to main bathing ghats at the Magh Mela.
- Focus on Ballia Prayagraj Magh Mela trains aims to reduce crowding and speed passenger dispersal.
