Banaras-Kolkata Festival Special: Northeast Railway Unveils New Weekly AC Train
To combat the massive passenger rush expected during the upcoming festive season, Northeast Railway has announced a brand-new weekly special train service connecting Banaras and Kolkata. This initiative is specifically designed to assist commuters traveling home for Durga Puja, Diwali, and Chhath Puja.
Fully Air-Conditioned Festive Service
The newly announced service will operate as a fully air-conditioned special train, featuring AC Economy coaches to ensure a comfortable journey for passengers. The service will run for a total of eight trips in each direction.
Train Schedule and Timings
Passengers can plan their festive travel according to the following schedule:
- Train No. 05048 (Banaras to Kolkata): Departing every Tuesday from October 6, 2026, until November 24, 2026. The train will leave Banaras at 10:45 AM and is scheduled to arrive in Kolkata at 6:15 AM the following day.
- Train No. 05047 (Kolkata to Banaras): Departing every Wednesday from October 7, 2026, until November 25, 2026. The train will leave Kolkata at 8:25 AM and arrive in Banaras at 4:45 AM the next day.
Route and Key Station Stops
The special train will provide connectivity to several important locations, including specific stops at Rewati and Shahpur Patori to meet local passenger demand. The full list of stops includes:
- Varanasi, Aunrihar, and Ghazipur City
- Ballia, Rewati, and Suraimanpur
- Chhapra, Dighwara, Sonpur, and Hajipur
- Shahpur Patori, Barauni, Kiul, and Jhajha
- Jasidih, Asansol, Durgapur, and Barddhaman
- Bandel and Naihati
Massive Festive Preparations Across India
The launch of the Banaras-Kolkata special is part of a massive nationwide effort by Indian Railways to manage seasonal demand. Across all railway zones, a staggering 1,053 special train trips have been announced. Other major developments include:
- North Central Railway: Implementing over 1,000 'Train on Demand' (TOD) services between October 1 and November 30, 2026.
- Northern Railway: The Delhi division is deploying hundreds of special trains to connect the capital with West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Jammu and Kashmir.
- South Central Railway: Extending four weekly special trains for a total of 66 trips.
- Western Railway: Increasing the frequency of services departing from the Ratlam division.
Furthermore, railway officials are preparing for a 20% increase in special train operations specifically for Bihar, following recent status reports from zonal offices.
Passengers are strongly advised to verify all operational details, including specific schedules and stop locations, through the Indian Railway Enquiry portal or the Railwan app before beginning their journey.