In response to the sudden cancellation of IndiGo flights and the resulting surge in passenger traffic during the wedding season, North Eastern Railway (NER) has announced the operation of "Clone Special" trains under the 'Train on Demand' scheme. This initiative, driven by the Railway Board and the Airport Authority, aims to assist passengers traveling from Gorakhpur to Delhi and Mumbai.
1. Special Train Schedules
The Railways will operate two pairs of special trains to Delhi (Anand Vihar) and one pair to Mumbai (Lokmanya Tilak Terminus).
Gorakhpur – Mumbai (LTT) Special
Train No. 05587 (Gorakhpur to LTT)
- Departure: Dec 7, 11:25 pmfrom Gorakhpur.
- Route: Basti, Gonda, Gomtinagar, Kanpur.
- Arrival: 09:00 amat LTT (on the third day).
Train No. 05588 (LTT to Gorakhpur)
- Departure: Dec 9, 11:00 am from LTT.
- Route: Kalyan, Nashik, Jhansi, Kanpur Central, Gomtinagar, Gonda.
- Arrival: 08:15 pm at Gorakhpur (on the second day).
Gorakhpur – Delhi (Anand Vihar Terminus) Special
Train No. 05591 (Gorakhpur to Anand Vihar)
- Departure: Dec 7 and Dec 8, 06:00 pm from Gorakhpur.
- Route: Gonda, Sitapur, Bareilly, Ghaziabad.
- Arrival: 07:30 am at Anand Vihar (on the second day).
Train No. 05592 (Anand Vihar to Gorakhpur)
- Departure: Dec 8 and Dec 9, 10:00 am from Anand Vihar.
- Route: Ghaziabad, Bareilly, Sitapur, Gonda.
- Arrival: 11:45 pm at Gorakhpur.
2. Coach Composition
According to Chief Public Relations Officer Pankaj Kumar Singh, the coach configurations for these special trains are as follows:
| Train Route | Composition Details |
| Gorakhpur – LTT (Mumbai) | Total Mixed Composition: • 1 AC First Class • 2 AC Second Class • 8 AC Third Class • 4 Sleeper Class • 4 General Second Class |
| Gorakhpur – Anand Vihar (Delhi) | Full AC Composition: • 20 AC Third Class Coaches |
Current Situation And Passenger Demand
The sudden suspension of IndiGo flights has created a "scram ble for tickets," exacerbating the existing rush due to the wedding season. Major regular trains are currently reporting "No Room" or excessive waiting lists:
12555 Gorakhdham Express (Gorakhpur–New Delhi–Bathinda):
- AC Third Class: Waiting List 400.
- AC First, AC Second, Sleeper: No Room (ticket sales closed).
22537 Kushinagar Express:
- AC Third Class: Waiting List 300+.
- Other Classes: No Room.
4. Future Developments
While schedules for Delhi and Mumbai have been released, the Airport Authority has also highlighted the need for a train to Bengaluru. Officials at the Gorakhpur headquarters are currently deliberating on operating a special train to Bengaluru in addition to the ones announced.