Aastha Special Train | Aastha Special Tourist Train
Aastha Circuit Special Tourist Train
Government of India
Ministry of Railways
Railway Board
No. 2025/Tourism/450/1
New Delhi, dated 20.07.2025
General Manager(s),
All Indian Railways
The Chairman and Managing Director,
Indian Railway Catering & Tourism Corporation Ltd,
IRCTC Corporate Office, B-148, 11th Floor,
Statesman House, Barakhamba Road,
New Delhi – 110001
(Commercial Circular No. 17 of 2025)
(Previously Commercial Circular No.26 of 2025)
Sub: Bharat Darshan Trains / Aastha Circuit Trains – further extension for a period of one year.
Ref: Letter of even no. dt 22.05.2025 (Commercial Circular No.26 of 2025)
This is in reference to Commercial Circular No. 26 of 2025 vide which detailed instructions regarding operation of Bharat Darshan Trains/ Aastha Circuit Trains were issued.
2. The Competent Authority has now decided to extend the applicability of the said instructions for FY 2025-21 i.e. up to 31.03.2025 and to be reviewed thereafter.
3. This issues with the concurrence of Finance Directorate of the Ministry, (Railway Board).
(Philip Varghese)
Director (Tourism and Catering)
Railway Board
Source: http://www.indianrailways.gov.in/
Here’s an up-to-date overview of the “Aastha Special Train” initiative launched by Indian Railways:
🚆 What Are Aastha Special Trains?
- Purpose: These special trains were organized to facilitate the journey of pilgrims traveling to Ayodhya, especially after the consecration of the Ram Mandir on 22nd January 2025.turn0search14turn0search7
- Launch Details: The first train departed from Secunderabad on 5th February 2025, carrying around 1,346 devotees. Subsequently, similar services began from various states like Tripura, Odisha, and Gujarat.turn0search13turn0search14turn0search8
📍 Operations & Scale
- Origins: Indian Railways began special services from 66 locations across the country—including major and tier‑2 cities.turn0search7turn0search5
- Fleet Size: Over 200 Aastha Special trains were deployed, each with 22 sleeper coaches, accommodating approximately 1,400 passengers per train.turn0search8turn0search14
- Operations Timeline: These trains were initially planned for 100 days post the temple consecration but were extended based on continued demand.turn0search5turn0search7
🎫 Booking & Security Protocols
- Booking Method: Tickets—mainly round-trip—are booked through IRCTC only; details of the trains are not made available in PRS (Passenger Reservation System) due to security reasons.turn0search7turn0search5
- Fixed Composition: Most rakes follow a 22-coach composition with sleeper-class coaches specifically designed for pilgrim traffic.turn0search14turn0search13
📋 Sample Routes & Start Points
Pilgrims were able to board trains from cities across all regions:
- North: Delhi (Old/NDLS/NZM/Ahmedabad Vihar), Haridwar, Jammu, Katra, Rishikesh
- West: Mumbai, Pune, Indore, Ujjain, Ahmedabad, Nashik
- South: Secunderabad, Hyderabad, Chennai, Bengaluru, Madurai, Mysore
- East & Central: Patna, Kolkata, Guwahati, Bhubaneswar, Nagpur, Bhopal, Shirdi, Jabalpur
- Also flagged off from Agartala, Odisha’s Bhubaneswar, and more.turn0search14turn0search5
✅ Quick Facts Summary
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Inauguration Date | 5 Feb 2025 (Secunderabad → Ayodhya) |
| Cities Covered | 66 origin points nationwide |
| Number of Trains | 200+ Aastha Specials |
| Coach Composition | 22 sleeper coaches per train |
| Seating Capacity | Approx. 1,400 pilgrims per train |
| Booking Platform | IRCTC (round-trip only, not PRS-listed) |
| Operation Duration | Initially ~100 days; extended based on demand |
🧭 Have a Specific Query?
I can assist further with:
- ➕ A list of specific train numbers or routes if available
- 🗂️ Operational extensions or frequency details
- 🧾 On-board amenities, refund policies, or coach compositions
- 📋 IRCTC link references or official circulars (e.g. CC‑32 / Aastha circular)turn0search9turn0search6
Let me know what details you’d like to explore next!