6,200+ Diwali Chhath Special Trains for 2026 Rush
Indian Railways announces over 6,200 Diwali Chhath special trains for 2026, a 30% increase to manage the festive holiday rush.
Indian Railways is set to manage the massive festive surge by operating over 6,200 Diwali Chhath special trains during the 2026 holiday season. This massive deployment represents a significant 30% increase in capacity compared to the 4,666 special trips provided during the same period last year.
As of October 13, 2026, railway authorities have already notified a total of 8,454 special train trips to accommodate travelers during the Durga Puja, Diwali, and Chhath Puja festivities.
Massive Boost in Coach Capacity
To ensure smoother travel, Northern Railway and other zonal authorities have augmented regular services by adding 412 additional coaches. To cater to the demand for more comfortable travel, extra AC coaches have been integrated into 10 special trains servicing key routes to Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
These festive operations are part of a much larger schedule, which includes approximately 3.4 lakh regular train trips running across the network between October 1 and November 30, 2026.
New Vande Bharat and Amrit Bharat Services
In a major boost to festive connectivity, five new trains are scheduled to begin operations on October 31, 2026. This new fleet includes high-speed Vande Bharat and Amrit Bharat Express services, specifically designed to handle the increased passenger demand during the peak holiday window.
Key Routes for Festive Travelers
The additional services are strategically planned to connect major metropolitan hubs such as Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Pune, and Kolkata to high-demand destinations in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal. Key enhanced routes include:
- Delhi–Patna
- Shakurbasti–Darbhanga
- Anand Vihar–Patliputra
- Chandigarh–Patna
- New Delhi–Howrah
- Pune–Muzaffarpur
- Jabalpur–Hazrat Nizamuddin
Passenger Facilities and Crowd Management
Railway authorities are simultaneously implementing strict crowd management protocols at major stations. This includes opening additional ticket counters and enhancing passenger facilities to handle the heavy footfall.
Passengers are strongly urged to verify train numbers, operating schedules, and seat availability via the NTES or IRCTC official websites and mobile applications before planning their journeys.