Diwali Rush: New Vande Bharat & Special Trains for Delhi-Patna
To manage the massive surge in passenger traffic during the upcoming festive season, Indian Railways has announced a major expansion of its services. To accommodate travelers celebrating Durga Puja, Diwali, and Chhath Puja, the rail network is significantly boosting capacity by adding extra AC berths to 10 special trains throughout November 2026.
Massive Capacity Boost for Festive Travelers
The railways are moving aggressively to prevent overcrowding. As of October 13, 2026, a total of 8,454 special train trips have already been notified. Furthermore, the department has augmented existing services by adding 412 additional coaches to the network to ensure smoother journeys for holiday commuters.
Vande Bharat Specials: Delhi-Patna Corridor Updates
The Delhi-Patna corridor is receiving a premium boost with several Vande Bharat services scheduled to run during the peak festive period:
- Vande Bharat Special (02253/02254): This service will connect Patna and New Delhi. Train 02253 will operate from October 24 to November 28, 2026, running on Saturdays, Mondays, and Wednesdays. Its return counterpart, 02254, will run from New Delhi to Patna from October 22 to November 26, 2026, on Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays.
- Tri-Weekly Festival Special: A dedicated Vande Bharat festival special will run between New Delhi and Patna Junction from October 21 to November 26, 2026.
- Existing Vande Bharat Service (02252): This service, which commenced on October 16, will continue to operate three days a week until November 17, 2026.
These high-speed Vande Bharat services will provide scheduled stops at Aligarh, Kanpur Central, Prayagraj, Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Junction, Buxar, and Ara, offering a faster and more comfortable travel experience.
Additional Festive Special Trains
Beyond the Vande Bharat services, other important routes will see special operations to handle the holiday load:
- Khajuraho to Hazrat Nizamuddin (01913/01914): A tri-weekly festival special running from October 21 to November 19, 2026, equipped with AC, sleeper, and general coaches.
- Shakur Basti–Patna Special (04404/04403): This special service is slated for eight trips in each direction between November 5 and November 15, 2026.
Future Outlook: Vande Bharat Sleeper Trains
While managing the current festive demand, the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai is also working on the next generation of rail travel. The development of Vande Bharat Sleeper trains is currently underway.
The proposed 24-coach configuration is expected to provide 1,431 berths across three different air-conditioned classes. Final designs for these sleeper coaches are expected to be completed by November 10, 2026, with the first prototypes anticipated to be ready by May or June 2027.
Traveler Advisory
Passengers planning their festive travel are strongly advised to verify all train schedules, service details, and specific stoppages via the National Train Enquiry System (NTES) or by contacting the official railway helpline at 139.