Chhath Puja Special Trains: Indian Railways to Ease Bihar Rush
Indian Railways announces Chhath Puja special trains from Mumbai and other cities to manage the festive rush to Bihar. Check routes and schedules.
To manage the massive surge in passenger demand, Indian Railways has announced several Chhath Puja special trains, including the extension of six specific services, to facilitate smoother travel to Bihar. As the festival is set to be observed from November 13 to November 16, 2026, the railway administration is implementing extra trips and temporary extensions to handle the heavy influx of devotees.
Massive Increase in Special Train Services
The Northern Railway is significantly scaling up its operations to meet the festive requirements. The zone has planned to operate over 6,200 special train trips, which marks a substantial 30% increase compared to the 4,666 trips conducted last year. By October 28, 2026, approximately 3,600 trips had already been announced.
To mitigate congestion, additional services are being deployed across major corridors, including:
- Delhi
- Varanasi
- Prayagraj
- Kanpur
- Ayodhya
Key Routes from Mumbai and Central India
Specific arrangements have been made to address the heavy passenger rush traveling from Central India and Mumbai toward Bihar. One of the critical services is the Nagpur–Samastipur Special (Train numbers 01207/01208), which will serve several important stations including Gorakhpur, Chhapra, Hajipur, Muzaffarpur, and Samastipur.
Mumbai to Bihar Connectivity
Central Railway has also taken proactive measures by rolling out 418 special trains from Mumbai to various destinations in Bihar, such as Patna, Danapur, Saharsa, Darbhanga, and Raxaul. Some of the notable services include:
- Mumbai LTT to Saharsa: 05586
- Mumbai LTT to Danapur: 01043
- Mumbai LTT to Raxaul: 05558
Trains on Demand and Official Commitments
In addition to scheduled special services, the North Central Railway is operating over 1,000 'Trains on Demand' (TODs) between October 1 and November 30 to provide extra flexibility for travelers.
Railway officials, including Himanshu Shekhar Upadhyay of Northern Railway, Dr. Shivam Sharma of North Central Railway, and Saraswati Chandra of East Central Railway, have emphasized the administration's commitment to facilitating festive travel through these dynamic adjustments.
Passengers are advised to verify the latest schedules and real-time seat availability through the IRCTC portal or the National Train Enquiry System (NTES) to ensure a hassle-free journey during the holiday rush.