Diwali Chhath Puja Rush: New Special Trains Announced
To manage the massive surge in passenger traffic during the upcoming festive season, Indian Railways has announced several Diwali Chhath Puja special trains to ensure smoother travel for millions of commuters. This initiative is part of a larger national strategy by the Ministry of Railways to handle the heavy demand expected between October 1 and November 30, 2026.
New Festive Routes and Services
To specifically address the travel needs of passengers, three new pairs of special trains have been introduced. These services will operate on the following routes:
- Chandigarh to Barauni
- Shakurbasti to Patna
- Shakurbasti to Jhanjharpur
As of October 13, 2026, the railway administration has already notified 8,454 special train trips to cover the Durga Puja, Diwali, and Chhath Puja period. This represents an increase of over 16,000 additional service trips compared to the previous year.
Major Focus on Bihar and East Central Railway
Bihar remains a primary destination for festive travelers, accounting for 2,057 of the total notified special services. To support this demand, the East Central Railway has launched 11 additional pairs of special trains. These services will connect major cities including Hubli, Bengaluru, Nagpur, Udhana, Amritsar, Delhi, Gorakhpur, and Tata, with all trains passing through Patna.
The Northern Railway has also scheduled several key festive expresses, such as:
- Chandigarh-Patna Special: Train numbers 04512/04511
- Firozpur Cantt-Patna Special: Train numbers 04616/04615
Other notable services include the Yog Nagari Rishikesh-Kolkata Special (04312/04311), which will run from October 16 to November 22, and the Jayanagar-Udhana Special (09074/09072), scheduled for October 20 and 27, 2026.
Important Information for Passengers
Travelers should be aware of the pricing structure for these festive services. The special trains, often identified by "0-series" numbers, will carry a surcharge. This typically includes:
- 10% surcharge for second-class passengers.
- 30% surcharge for Sleeper and AC classes.
Please note that no concessions are applicable on these special services. Passengers can book their tickets through the IRCTC website, the official mobile application, or at any railway reservation counter.
Crowd Management and Safety Measures
To handle the peak travel periods, especially leading up to the Chhath Puja Sandhya Arghya on November 15, 2026, the West Central Railway is taking proactive steps. Starting November 3, 2026, temporary passenger holding areas will be established at 15 major stations across Bihar to ensure effective crowd control and passenger safety.