Delhi-Bhagalpur Diwali 2026: Special Trains to Tackle Heavy Waiting Lists
Facing heavy waiting lists for Diwali 2026? Indian Railways announces special trains on the Delhi-Bhagalpur route to manage festive rush.
If you are planning to head home for the festivities, you might find the booking screens looking quite grim. As Diwali 2026 approaches on November 8, passengers traveling between Delhi and Bhagalpur are facing significant travel hurdles due to massive waiting lists and nearly full train bookings.
New Special Trains for Delhi-Bhagalpur Route
To manage the expected surge in festive traffic and ease the congestion, Indian Railways has introduced several special services. Specifically for the Delhi-Bhagalpur corridor, Northern Railway has deployed dedicated festival reserved special trains to help commuters reach their destinations.
- Train Number 04062: This service will operate from Anand Vihar Terminal to Bhagalpur daily between October 10 and November 25. It is scheduled to depart at 12:00 PM and arrive at 1:30 PM the following day.
- Train Number 04061: For the return journey, this train will depart Bhagalpur daily at 4:30 PM, arriving at Anand Vihar at 8:00 PM. This service will run from October 11 to November 26.
Massive Increase in Festive Special Services
The scale of special operations this year is significantly higher than in previous years. Northern Railway has planned over 6,200 special train trips, a notable increase from the 4,666 trips operated during the last festive season. Similarly, Central Railway is running approximately 1,000 special trains between October 1 and November 30, with the possibility of adding more services if demand continues to rise.
Current Status of Regular Trains
For those relying on regular scheduled services, the booking situation is extremely tight. The Vikramshila Express (12368), which serves as the fastest link between Delhi and Bhagalpur—covering 1,230 kilometers in approximately 19 hours—is seeing intense demand. As of late October 2026, the train reports long waiting lists, with sleeper class waiting lists exceeding 300 and third AC waiting lists surpassing 100, with many dates showing a "no room" status through December.
For travelers looking for more affordable options, the Brahmaputra Mail (15657) remains a key service with minimum fares starting at ₹590. Other active services on this route include the NDLS MLDT EXP (14004) and the Farakka EXP (15744).
New Travel Insurance Facility at Counters
In a significant update for passenger safety and convenience, travel insurance is no longer limited to online bookings. Effective October 27, 2026, passengers purchasing tickets at station reservation counters can now opt for travel insurance. Following a Supreme Court directive issued after the June 2023 Odisha accident, this facility allows travelers to secure coverage of up to ₹1 lakh for a small premium of approximately 45 paise.
Tips for Securing Your Journey
If regular bookings are unavailable, passengers can attempt to secure seats through the Tatkal quota. Tatkal booking windows open at 10:00 AM for AC classes and 11:00 AM for non-AC classes, exactly one day prior to the train's departure. It is highly recommended that all passengers verify real-time seat availability on the IRCTC portal before finalizing their festive travel plans.