14 Diwali Chhath Puja Special Trains for Festive Rush
Indian Railways launches 14 Diwali Chhath Puja special trains to manage the massive 2026 festive rush. Check routes, schedules, and travel rules.
To accommodate the massive passenger surge during the upcoming 2026 festive season, Indian Railways has announced the launch of 14 Diwali Chhath Puja special trains. This strategic initiative by the Ministry of Railways aims to ease travel congestion across high-density routes during the peak holiday period.
Northern Railway Leads Massive Festive Expansion
The Northern Railway is spearheading the effort to manage the seasonal influx, with plans to operate over 6,200 special train trips in total. Several specific services have been deployed to handle the heavy demand on key corridors:
- Hazrat Nizamuddin–Virangana Lakshmibai Jhansi Special (04412/04411): Scheduled to operate from November 5 to November 7.
- Ghaziabad–Aligarh–Ghaziabad EMU Special (04414/04413): Running services on November 5, 6, and 7.
Route Extensions for Enhanced Connectivity
In addition to new services, existing routes have been extended to better serve commuters:
- The New Delhi–Agra Cantt. Intercity Express has been temporarily extended to Bhamawali Halt.
- The New Delhi–Ghaziabad EMU has been extended to Aligarh Junction.
Eastern Railway Connects West Bengal to Bihar and UP
The Eastern Railway is also expanding its network by deploying five pairs of unreserved special trains. These services are designed to connect major hubs in West Bengal, such as Howrah and Sealdah, to vital destinations in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, including:
- Patna
- Gorakhpur
- Muzaffarpur
- Jaynagar
Essential Travel Guidelines for Passengers
To ensure a smooth journey for all travelers, railway officials have issued the following mandatory guidelines:
- E-Ticket Restrictions: Passengers holding fully waitlisted e-tickets are strictly prohibited from boarding reserved coaches. These tickets are automatically cancelled once the reservation chart is prepared.
- Boarding Station Modifications: Travelers can modify their boarding station through the IRCTC portal. This option remains available until the second reservation chart is prepared, which typically occurs 30 minutes before the train's departure.
For real-time updates on schedules and bookings, passengers are encouraged to use the official IRCTC website, the NTES mobile application, or the Indian Railways enquiry portal.