The people of Purnia (Purnea) division got a big gift from Indian Railways this week, as the district got connected to the capital Patna through rail route via Saharsa. After the devastating flood of Kosi in the year 2008 the railway route between Purnia and Saharsa was totally destroyed. At that time the Meter Gauge (MG) route was existing, which even once (around two decades ago) used to connect Guwahati with Lucknow, and a direct train was also running with the name GL (Guwahati - Lucknow) Express. However, the people of Purnia division and adjoining districts like Madhepura were devoid of proper railway connectivity since long time, in fact, several decades. The lack of Broad Gauge (BG) track on the route was a big issue for the train commuters and further the Kosi floods badly damaged the existing MG route as well in the 2008. Although, the people from Purnia district used to avail the train services for big cities like Delhi, Kolkata, etc via Katihar, around 28 kms away, but it was not the permanent solution.
Thanks to Indian Railways that the long wait of people from Purnia division finally got the direct connectivity with state capital Patna via the restored BG (Broad Gauge) route between Purnia - Saharsa. Meanwhile, the Eastern Central Railways (ECR) division of Indian Railways also introduced / restored a number on this route.
Kosi Express (18697 / 19698) earlier running between Patna to Dauram Madhupura (Madhepura) has been further extended upto Purnia Court, which is a big bonanza for people of Purnia division. The daily train is running on this route with halts at Purnia (starting / destination point), Banmankhi Junction, Murliganj, Dauram Madhupura, Saharsa Junction, Simri Bakhtiyarpur, Koparia, Dhamara Ghat, Badla Ghat, Mansi Junction, Khagaria Juction, Sahibpur Kamal, Lakhminia, Danauli Phlwria, Begusara, Hathidah Upper, Mokameh Junction, Purarakh, Barh, Bakhtiyarpur Junction, Khusropur, Fatwa, Patna Saheb, Rajendra Nagar Terminal and Patna Junction (starting / destination point).
Some other major trains introduced / restored on this route are Jaynagar - Katihar Intercity Express (15283 / 15284), and passenger trains between Purnia court and Saharsa Junction with train nos. 55563 / 55564, 55571 / 55572, 55583 / 55584. The detailed time table of the trains are given below.
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