1,053 Special Trains for Diwali & Chhath: Indian Railways' Mega Festive Plan!
Indian Railways has unveiled a massive plan to tackle the heavy passenger surge expected during the upcoming festive season. To ensure smooth travel for Durga Puja, Diwali, and Chhath Puja, the authorities have announced the operation of 1,053 'Train on Demand' (TOD) services.
A 61-Day Festive Travel Window
These special services are scheduled to run for a total of 61 days, spanning from October 1 to November 30, 2026. As part of this massive deployment, officials have already confirmed 13 additional pairs of special trains, which will account for 282 extra trips across various routes. Booking for these specific 13 pairs commenced on September 19, 2026.
The scale of operations is enormous across different zones:
- Northern Railways: Preparing nearly 3,000 special train trips.
- North Central Railway (NCR): Announcing over 1,000 TOD trips.
Connecting Delhi to Bihar and Major Hubs
A significant portion of these special services is dedicated to connecting major hubs in Delhi—including Anand Vihar Terminal and New Delhi—to key destinations in Bihar. To accommodate the massive demand from the state, eight new special trains have been specifically designated for Bihar routes.
Key Destinations and Connectivity:
- Bihar Focus: Patna, Muzaffarpur, Darbhanga, Jogbani, Sitamarhi, Saharsa, Danapur, and Raxaul.
- Other Major Cities: Kolkata, Prayagraj, Kanpur Central, Palwal, Virangana Lakshmibai Jhansi Junction, Hazrat Nizamuddin, Gwalior, Dadri, Pune, Hadapsar, Khajuraho, Tiruchanur, and Agra Cantt.
These services will span multiple states, including Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Assam, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh.
Managing the Rush: Clone Trains and Technical Upgrades
To prevent the usual waiting list saturation, Indian Railways is implementing several strategic measures. For instance, clone trains will operate between Delhi and Patna, specifically between November 1 and November 8, to provide extra capacity when regular services are experiencing high waitlists.
"The railways are closely monitoring waiting lists to ensure comfortable travel, with some existing trains receiving additional coaches to boost capacity."
— Dr. Shivam Sharma, CPRO, North Central Railway
Furthermore, to ensure a seamless booking experience, IRCTC has upgraded its servers and implemented advanced anti-bot technology to manage the high volume of traffic and facilitate smoother bookings for passengers.