Purnia: Traveling from Purnia to Siliguri, Darjeeling, and Gangtok has now become easier and faster. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched the Katihar-Siliguri Intercity Train, which has been welcomed by both passengers and tourism operators. Until now, travelers from Purnia had to endure a long and often tiring road journey to reach Siliguri before heading to the mountains. The new train will cover the 230-kilometer distance in just 5 hours and 20 minutes, saving time and making the journey more comfortable. This new service is expected to attract tourists, students, and business travelers who frequently travel between Bihar and North Bengal.
The Katihar-Siliguri Intercity will depart from Katihar daily at 5:00 am and reach Purnia Junction at 5:25 am, where it will stop for two minutes. After Purnia, the train will stop at Kasba, Jalalgarh, and Araria Court stations before continuing its journey via Rahmatpur, Bansbari, Khawaspur, Lakshmipur, Kaliaganj, Tedhagachh, Bibiganj, Pouchali, Thakurganj, Galgalia, Naxalbari, and Bagdogra. It will finally reach Siliguri at 10:15 a.m. The same train will return from Siliguri at 12:45 p.m. and reach Katihar at 6:05 p.m. Its average speed will be approximately 43 km/h, which is considered quite good for a passenger train with so many stops. Regular passengers believe this will save both time and money compared to road travel.
In addition to the Intercity train, a Vande Bharat Express has also been announced for this route. The Vande Bharat train will run from Forbesganj to Danapur via Purnia Junction and Banmankhi Junction. The train will depart Forbesganj at 3:30 p.m. The train will cover a distance of 453 kilometers at an average speed of approximately 55 kilometers per hour and reach Danapur at 11:40 pm. Along the way, it will stop at Araria Court, Purnia Junction, Banmankhi, Dauram Madhepura, Saharsa, Khagaria, Samastipur, Muzaffarpur, and Hajipur stations. This service is expected to benefit passengers seeking faster and more convenient travel within Bihar.
Another major announcement is the launch of the weekly Amrit Bharat train from Jogbani to Erode, a long-distance train connecting Bihar with Tamil Nadu. It will cover a total distance of 3,129 kilometers in approximately 63 hours and 30 minutes. The train will depart Jogbani every weekday at 3:30 pm, reach Purnia Junction at 4:45 pm, and depart at 4:47 pm. After a long journey through several states, it will reach Erode at 5:30 am on Thursdays. This train will be extremely useful for people traveling to South India for work, business, and family trips.
These new rail services are expected to significantly improve connectivity from Purnia. Passengers will have more options for traveling to North Bengal, Patna, and even Tamil Nadu. Tourism operators say this will attract more tourists to Darjeeling and Gangtok and boost the local economy. Businesses and daily commuters are also happy with these announcements, as they will get faster and more reliable trains for long-distance and local travel.
