Kanpur's railway stations and bus stands are packed this week with people returning to work after Diwali, travelling for Bhai Dooj and heading east for Chhath. Railways has added several festival specials that stop at Kanpur Central and Govindpuri, but local reports on Tuesday found the crowd still outrunning the arrangements. Here is a practical guide to the extra trains reported so far, and what the rush looks like on the ground.

The extra trains that halt in Kanpur

According to Amar Ujala's report on the railway timetable, four special services have been given halts at Kanpur Central and Govindpuri:

  • New Delhi-Patna Vande Bharat festival special: leaves New Delhi at 5 am on 11 November and reaches Kanpur Central at 10 am, then runs via Prayagraj to Patna at 6:30 pm. The return leaves Patna at 8 am on 12 November, reaches Kanpur Central at 3:50 pm and New Delhi at 9:30 pm. The Daily Jagran adds that a second pair runs from New Delhi on 13 November, returning on 14 November, with 16 coaches and halts at Aligarh, Kanpur Central, Prayagraj, DDU, Buxar and Ara.
  • Rajendra Nagar-New Delhi AC Puja special: five trips between 11 and 20 November, with a halt at Govindpuri. Amar Ujala says it reaches Govindpuri at 6:45 am from Rajendra Nagar and at 1:55 am on the way back from Delhi. The Times of India, citing East Central Railway, lists it as train 02309/02310 and says it leaves Rajendra Nagar at 8:10 pm on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, and leaves New Delhi at 7 pm on Thursdays, Saturdays and Mondays, with Kanpur among its halts.
  • Jaipur-Bhagalpur special: reaches Govindpuri at 10:50 pm on 11 November; the return halts there at 4:05 pm on 19 November.
  • Ahmedabad-Rajgir unreserved special: the return trip halts at Govindpuri at 4:18 am on 12 November.

Timings can change, so check the live running status on the railway enquiry app or the 139 helpline before leaving home. Kahaan Kya Hua is quoting Amar Ujala for the Govindpuri timings; the Vande Bharat and AC special details are also carried by The Daily Jagran and The Times of India.

Rush on the ground

On Tuesday, 10 November, Amar Ujala reported crowds at Kanpur Central stretching from the platforms to the foot overbridge as people returned to work after the holidays. When trains arrived, passengers rushed the doors, some climbed in through windows, and families with luggage struggled. The paper said extra trains and general coaches did not appear adequate and crowd control on the platforms looked thin, even though the post-festival rush had been expected.

In Kanpur Dehat, the same paper's agency team found passengers waiting at Namaste Chauraha as roadways buses passed without stopping. People turned to autos and shared vehicles, some of which carried more passengers than permitted, to reach Kanpur and then the railway station. Trains were also full on Bhai Dooj as sisters went to their parental homes.

A new halt for Kanpur Dehat

Separately, Gorakhpur-Yesvantpur Express (15023/15024), a weekly service, now stops at Pukhrayan station. Amar Ujala reports the stop began on 10 November. The up train arrives at 6:58 pm and leaves at 7 pm, and the return train 15024 is timed at 9:47 am and 9:49 am; the paper says the return halt is effective from 14 November. The service was flagged off by UP minister Rakesh Sachan and Jalaun MP Narayandas Ahirwar, and a North Central Railway Jhansi division officer said the halt had long been awaited by passengers.

Tips for travellers

  • Book or re-check a special in the app: tickets for the AC special and the Vande Bharat are reserved, while some specials are unreserved.
  • Reach the station early and use the foot overbridge only when your platform is announced.
  • Keep children and elderly relatives away from the platform edge and avoid climbing in through windows.
  • Expect heavier crowds again on 16 November after Chhath and on the weekend.

What next

Railways has not yet announced extra general coaches or additional Kanpur specials beyond those listed. With Chhath running from 13 to 16 November, passenger numbers are expected to stay high for several more days. Kahaan Kya Hua will update this guide if new specials are announced for Kanpur.

Sources: Amar Ujala, The Daily Jagran, The Times of India.