VARANASI: Northern Railway's Delhi Division announced reserved festival specials between New Delhi and Darbhanga on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, with calls at Varanasi on November 13 and 14. For passengers using the Cantt area station, the important distinction is between the departure date at the originating city and the date the train reaches Varanasi.
Train 04080 is scheduled to arrive at Varanasi at 2.10 pm IST on Friday, November 13, and leave at 2.20 pm for Darbhanga. In the opposite direction, train 04079 is scheduled to arrive at 3 pm IST on Saturday, November 14, and leave at 3.10 pm towards New Delhi. These local dates follow the journey sequence in the official timetable.
Passengers should check the train number, boarding date and current running information before setting out. The railway announcement directs enquiries to 139 or the official train enquiry service. Its timetable lists AC, sleeper and general class accommodation, but gives no platform allocation, fare or available berth count.
Which date applies at Varanasi
The Delhi Division's official announcement was issued at 11.48 pm IST on November 11. Its timetable gives November 12 as the run date of 04080 from New Delhi and November 14 as the run date of 04079 from Darbhanga Junction. The announcement concerns these particular festival journeys.
The eastbound train leaves New Delhi at 10.30 pm on November 12. After passing through Uttar Pradesh overnight and into the following afternoon, it reaches Varanasi on November 13. Darbhanga arrival is printed as 1 am on the third day of the journey, which places it on November 14. Travellers boarding at Varanasi should therefore avoid confusing the November 12 origin date with their November 13 boarding date.
The return service starts from Darbhanga at 4 am on November 14 and reaches Varanasi that afternoon. Its New Delhi arrival is 7.50 am the next day, November 15. For a passenger heading towards the capital, the Varanasi departure date is November 14, rather than the date of arrival in Delhi.
| Train | Varanasi date | Arrival IST | Departure IST | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 04080 | November 13 | 2.10 pm | 2.20 pm | Darbhanga |
| 04079 | November 14 | 3 pm | 3.10 pm | New Delhi |
Stops towards eastern Uttar Pradesh and Bihar
After leaving Varanasi, 04080 reaches Aunrihar Junction at 3.15 pm and leaves at 3.17 pm. Ghazipur City follows at 4 pm, with departure at 4.05 pm. Ballia is scheduled for 5 pm to 5.02 pm, and Suraimanpur for 5.37 pm to 5.39 pm. These are scheduled calls on November 13.
Further east, the train reaches Chhapra Junction at 6.55 pm and departs at 7.05 pm. Sonpur is listed at 8.28 pm to 8.30 pm, Hajipur Junction at 8.40 pm to 8.45 pm, and Muzaffarpur Junction at 9.45 pm to 9.50 pm. Samastipur Junction has an 11.10 pm arrival and an 11.40 pm departure.
After midnight, the final intermediate call is Laheria Sarai, from 12.33 am to 12.35 am on November 14, before the 1 am Darbhanga arrival. Families arranging to collect passengers should use those calendar dates as well as the clock times, particularly for the last two stations.
The westbound journey from Varanasi
For 04079, the timetable shows Gyanpur Road at 4.08 pm to 4.10 pm on November 14, after the 3.10 pm departure from Varanasi. Prayagraj Junction is scheduled for 5.50 pm to 6 pm, followed by Kanpur Central at 9.45 pm to 9.50 pm. The train continues overnight towards Delhi.
Aligarh Junction is listed at 2.46 am to 2.48 am on November 15 and Ghaziabad Junction at 6.45 am to 6.47 am, ahead of arrival in New Delhi at 7.50 am. The complete route also serves the eastern stations in the reverse direction. Passengers starting outside Varanasi can consult the original railway timetable for their station's individual call.
What residents should do
Keep the five digit train number and the boarding station together when making an enquiry. Use National Train Enquiry System or 139 for current running and station information. A published schedule is the planned movement of the service; passengers still need the current information for their particular journey.
The announcement supplies no extra Varanasi departure dates beyond these runs and no promise of seats remaining in any class. Check the accommodation applicable to the intended journey rather than assuming the coach descriptions establish availability. Local background includes the station's earlier festival waiting area plan, festival bus arrangements and the separately announced Bilaspur special. Each concerns its own service or notice.
