The North Eastern Railway’s Varanasi division has announced temporary stoppages for 11 pairs of mail and express trains at the Prayagraj Magh Mela area to facilitate large numbers of pilgrims attending the annual fair. The move aims to improve access to the mela precincts and reduce last‑mile travel pressure on road links in and around Prayagraj.
Ashok Kumar, public relations officer for the Varanasi division, said the measures will see selected services halting at Jhunsi and Prayagraj Rambagh stations on specified dates in January and February. “These stoppages are temporary and intended to ease the travel burden for devotees attending the Magh Mela,” he said.
Prayagraj Magh Mela train stoppages
The temporary halts affect a mix of long‑distance and regional services. Highlights from the published schedule include:
- The Ballia–New Delhi Superfast Express will stop on 13 and 14 January at Jhunsi and Prayagraj Rambagh; the return New Delhi–Ballia Superfast will halt on 12, 13, 19 and 20 January.
- The Pune–Darbhanga Express will stop in the up direction on 15 and 22 January. The down service from Darbhanga to Pune will halt on 2, 16, 23 and 30 January and on 13 February.
- Both up and down services of the Gorakhpur–Anvarganj Express will receive temporary halts on various dates across January and February.
- Pairs of services such as the Banaras–Veraval Express and Banaras–Udhna Express will stop at the mela stations on 14 and 21 January.
- Other named trains receiving temporary halts include the Avadh‑bound and LTT–Jaynagar Pawan Express, the Lichchavi Express and the Vibhuti Express on multiple dates through January and February.
- The Pune–Gorakhpur Express will call at mela stations on 2, 16, 23 and 30 January and 13 February; the Gorakhpur–Pune Express will halt on 3, 17, 24 and 31 January and on 14 February.
Rail authorities said the additional stoppages are scheduled to coincide with peak pilgrimage days to improve passenger convenience and distribute crowds more evenly across entry points to the fair. Jhunsi and Prayagraj Rambagh have been designated as the principal temporary call‑points to reduce congestion at the main Prayagraj Junction.
Passengers travelling to or through Prayagraj during the Magh Mela are advised to:
- Check the revised timetable on the Indian Railways website or through official enquiry counters before travel.
- Allow extra time for onward travel from temporary halts, as local transport and foot traffic may be heavy.
- Confirm reservations and platform information in advance, and follow instructions issued by railway staff at the stations.
The North Eastern Railway stressed that the halts are temporary and that normal schedules will resume after the mela period. Officials also encouraged passengers to plan journeys early and follow safety advisories while travelling to the religious congregation.
Key Takeaways:
- Indian Railways will provide temporary stops for 11 pairs of mail and express trains at Prayagraj Magh Mela to ease pilgrim movement.
- North Eastern Railway’s Varanasi division announced scheduled stoppages at Jhunsi and Prayagraj Rambagh on specified dates in January and February.
- Key services affected include the Ballia–New Delhi Superfast, Pune–Darbhanga, Gorakhpur–Pune and several regional express trains.
- Passengers are advised to check revised timetables and plan travel accordingly to avoid delays.
