Diwali & Chhath Puja 2026: Massive Special Train Boost!
Indian Railways has announced a massive expansion of its service network to handle the heavy surge in passenger traffic during the upcoming 2026 Diwali and Chhath Puja festivals. To ensure smooth travel for millions of commuters, the national carrier plans to operate approximately 3.4 lakh regular train trips between October 1 and November 30, 2026, an increase from the 3.3 lakh trips conducted last year.
In addition to regular services, authorities have already notified 8,454 special train trips as of October 15, 2026. This festive schedule includes 16,000 more regular service trips than the previous year to accommodate the seasonal rush.
Major Focus on Bihar and Uttar Pradesh
The festive demand is particularly high in the states of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. Bihar has been allocated a significant number of services, with 2,057 notified special trips initially. Following the announcement of two additional pairs of special trains on October 17, 2026, the total special trip count for Bihar has risen to 2,500.
Uttar Pradesh is also receiving a major boost with 1,056 notified special trips. East Central Railway (ECR) CPRO Saraswati Chandra confirmed that these expanded services are vital for managing the peak festive demand across these high-traffic regions.
Key Vande Bharat and Special Train Routes
Several high-profile special services have been introduced to connect major cities during the holiday period. Notable routes include:
- Vande Bharat Festival Special (02252/02251): Operating between New Delhi and Patna, this service runs on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays from October 21 to November 25. The return trips operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays from October 22 to November 26.
- Udhna-Jaynagar Weekly Specials: These unreserved services depart on October 18 and 25, with return trips on October 20 and 27. The trains will stop at several key stations, including Danapur, Patliputra, Sonpur, Hajipur, Muzaffarpur, Samastipur, Darbhanga, and Madhubani.
- Hubballi-Muzaffarpur Special (07315/07316)
- Amritsar-Jaynagar Service (04652/04651)
- Yognagari Rishikesh-Kolkata Special (04312/04311)
- CSMT Mumbai-Gorakhpur Daily Specials (01079/01080): These services will run through mid-November.
Crowd Management and Passenger Safety
To manage the massive crowds expected at stations, the West Central Railway (WCR) is taking proactive steps. Starting November 3, 2026, temporary passenger holding areas will be established at 15 major stations across Bihar to help maintain order and safety.
Passengers traveling during this period are advised to verify all train schedules in advance and book their tickets through the official IRCTC website, mobile application, or at railway reservation counters.