Surat: In view of the surge in passenger demand, especially among migrant workers returning home during the upcoming summer vacation, the Western Railway has announced a completely unreserved special train between Udhna in Surat and Jaynagar in Bihar.

The decision, taken after approval from the Railway Board, is part of the ‘Train on Demand’ (TOD) initiative and is expected to provide relief to passengers planning last-minute travel.

Train schedule and route

According to official details, train number 09041 Udhna–Jayanagar Special will depart from Udhna at 01:30 hrs on March 29 and reach Jaynagar at 14:30 hrs the following day (Monday). In the return direction, train number 09042 Jaynagar–Udhna Special will depart at 17:30 hrs on Monday and arrive in Udhna at 06:15 hrs on Tuesday.

The train will cover a distance of approximately 1,857 km and halt at key stations including Nandurbar, Bhusaval, Jabalpur, Satna, Prayagraj Chivki, and Patna.

Extension of other trains

The Railway has also extended the operation of several special trains catering to passengers travelling to North India:

• Mumbai Central–Kanpur Special: extended till July 26
• Bandra Terminus–Bhiwani Special: extended till July 29
• Valsad–Danapur and Surat–Chhapra Specials: extended till June 29
• Sabarmati–Haridwar Special: to operate till June 29

Additionally, the frequency of trains such as Ahmedabad–Patna and Mumbai Central–Kathgodam has also been increased.

Booking and facilities

Bookings for train numbers 09425 and 09309 will open from March 28, 2026, while reservations for other special trains will be available from March 29 at PRS counters and on the IRCTC website.

The special trains will run with LHB coaches, comprising a total of 22 coaches (20 general coaches and 2 power cars).

In view of the summer heat, the Railways has also directed the provision of additional drinking water facilities at major stations, including Nandurbar, Bhusaval, Itarsi, and Jabalpur. DeshGujarat