Indian Railways has approved 202 additional train stoppages at 82 stations under the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR), covering parts of Assam, West Bengal and Bihar, in a major push to improve passenger access and regional rail connectivity. The newly sanctioned halts have been introduced on an experimental basis and are expected to come into effect shortly.

Railway officials said the decision aims to address long-standing demands from passengers in smaller towns and emerging locations that currently have limited access to long-distance and premium train services. The move is expected to significantly benefit semi-urban and rural passengers by reducing their dependence on distant major junctions.

NFR Chief Public Relations Officer Kapinjal Kishore Sharma said the additional stoppages would be closely monitored to assess passenger response and operational feasibility. “Several high-demand and premium trains have been included under this plan, which will substantially strengthen rail connectivity across North Bengal, Bihar and Assam,” he said.

Premium trains included

Among the major highlights, the New Jalpaiguri–Guwahati–New Jalpaiguri Vande Bharat Express will now halt at Rangiya. The Anand Vihar–Agartala–Anand Vihar Rajdhani Express has been given stoppages at New Haflong and New Cooch Behar.

Upper Assam is also set to gain improved access to Rajdhani services, with the New Delhi–Dibrugarh–New Delhi Rajdhani Express scheduled to stop at Dhemaji, Sibsagar Town and Vishwanath Chariali.

Expanded mail and express services

Several important mail and express trains have also been brought under the expanded stoppage plan. These include services such as Guwahati–Howrah, Dibrugarh–Howrah, Kamakhya–Puri, Silchar–Guwahati and Alipurduar–Delhi, which cater to large passenger volumes across the eastern and northeastern regions.

A broad range of stations across the NFR network have been selected for the experimental halts. Key locations include Rangiya, Nalbari, Barpeta Road, Goalpara Town, Kokrajhar, New Alipurduar, New Mal Junction, Bagdogra, Sivok and Dalkhola, among many others.

Railway officials said the additional stops are expected to shorten travel time to major junctions for passengers from interior areas, while also improving interchange options with premium and long-distance trains.

Phased rollout and passenger advisory

The new stoppages will be implemented in a phased manner over the coming weeks. Passengers have been advised to check updated train schedules through official railway enquiry platforms before planning their journeys.
The Northeast Frontier Railway, headquartered at Maligaon near Guwahati, operates across the northeastern states along with parts of West Bengal and north Bihar, and continues to focus on enhancing travel convenience and connectivity across the region.

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