Diwali 2026: Special Vande Bharat & Festival Trains Announced
Indian Railways has announced a massive schedule of Diwali Chhath Puja special trains to manage the expected passenger rush during the upcoming 2026 festive season. This comprehensive plan aims to ensure that millions of travelers can return home to their families with minimal hassle and reduced waitlists.
Massive Surge in Festive Train Services
Leading the initiative, the Northern Railway is implementing a wide-ranging strategy that includes additional festival special services, temporary route extensions, and increased trip frequencies. Between October 1 and November 30, 2026, the railways plan to operate approximately 3.4 million regular train journeys. This represents a significant boost of over 16,000 trips compared to the previous year, specifically designed to tackle the seasonal demand.
Key Special Trains and Routes
To facilitate travel across major regions including Delhi, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh, several key services have been highlighted:
- New Delhi–Patna Vande Bharat Express: This premium service will operate on a special festive schedule. From October 21 to November 25, the train will depart New Delhi every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday. From Patna, the service will depart every Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday between October 22 and November 26.
- Pune–Muzaffarpur Special (01481/01482): Connecting Maharashtra to Bihar, this special service will complete six round trips. It is scheduled to depart Pune every Tuesday (from October 20 to November 24) and Muzaffarpur every Thursday (from October 22 to November 26).
- Delhi Jn.–Howrah Jn. Festival Special (04092/04091): This service provides essential connectivity and includes a confirmed stop at Tundla Junction.
Enhanced Connectivity for Tundla and Firozabad
Passengers in the Firozabad and Tundla regions will benefit from improved connectivity to major cities such as Delhi, Lucknow, Kanpur, and Mumbai. A total of eight special trains are slated to stop at Tundla Junction to provide relief to local commuters. Additionally, as of October 19, 2026, there are 14 trains available daily between Firozabad and Tundla, with travel times ranging from 23 to 43 minutes.
How to Book Tickets
Dr. Shivam Sharma, Chief Public Relations Officer of North Central Railway, confirmed that these measures are intended to provide convenient travel options and reduce the heavy waitlists typically seen during the holidays. Passengers can secure their travel through the following methods:
- IRCTC Website or the official mobile application.
- Physical Railway Reservation Counters.
For real-time updates on train status and seat availability, travelers are advised to use the National Train Enquiry System (NTES).