Calcutta-based dance teacher Swadesh Kumar and his friends (below) are all prepared to enjoy the ride as Dhanbad-Howrah Double Decker Chhath Puja Special (02386) chugs out of Dhanbad station on Sunday after a gap of a year.

The special AC train with 638 seats, however, had only 50 passengers on its comeback run.

To run till November 8, the train was flagged off from Dhanbad station at 7.40am in the presence of DRM Manoj Krishna Akhauri and other senior officials.

It reached Howrah at 1pm, an hour behind schedule.

A frequent traveller between Howrah and Dhanbad, Pawan Verma said they had a comfortable journey except for the fact that the train reached Howrah an hour late. He also confessed he felt hungry during the trip.

"I think the train should have some catering arrangements. Even vendors were not allowed inside," said Verma, who was travelling along with family and a friend.

But, Verma also added the train should continue to run so that the passengers could have an alternative after Coalfield Express morning blamed on the inconvenient timings and higher fares. In its earlier stint from 2011 to 2015, the train (12385 Up) started from Howrah at 8.35am and arrived in Dhanbad at 12.50pm. On return journey, it (12386 Down) used to depart from Dhanbad at 6.30pm and reach Howrah at 10.40pm.

On its return journey, the train (02385) left Howrah at 2.35pm and reached Dhanbad at 6.50pm. The train has three stops between Dhanbad and Howrah - Kumbardubi, Barakar and Asansol. Its fare is Rs 545 for an adult and Rs 390 for a child.

Text by Praduman Choubey, picture by Gautam Dey