8,454 Special Trains for Diwali and Chhath 2026
Indian Railways has announced a massive expansion of its services to manage the heavy passenger rush expected during the 2026 festive season. To accommodate travelers during Durga Puja, Diwali, and Chhath Puja, a total of 8,454 special train trips have been notified.
Massive Surge in Festive Services
Beyond the special trips, the railway network is scaling up its regular operations to ensure smoother travel. Between October 1 and November 30, 2026, the railways plan to operate 3.4 lakh regular train trips. This is a significant increase compared to the 3.3 lakh trips recorded during the same period last year, representing over 16,000 additional regular services.
High-Demand Regions Prioritized
The strategic distribution of these special trains focuses on areas with the highest passenger demand. The breakdown of notified trips includes:
- Bihar: 2,057 trips
- Uttar Pradesh: 1,056 trips
- Delhi: 975 trips
- Maharashtra: 836 trips
- West Bengal: 464 trips
East Central Railway Connectivity Boost
The East Central Railway is taking a major lead in providing connectivity for festive travelers. It has introduced 11 pairs of additional special trains to connect Bihar to major hubs such as Bengaluru, Delhi, Amritsar, Nagpur, Kolkata, Rishikesh, and Gujarat. These services will cater to key stations including Muzaffarpur, Saharsa, Samastipur, Chhapra, Jaynagar, Buxar, and Bhagalpur.
Notable Festive Train Routes
Some of the notable special services announced include:
- Rani Kamalapati–Danapur (01667/01668)
- Hubballi–Muzaffarpur (07315/07316)
- Jaynagar–Udhna (09074)
Zonal Updates and Capacity Enhancements
Other railway zones are also rolling out dedicated schedules to connect vital corridors. Central Railway has confirmed 162 new special trains specifically for the Diwali and Chhath period, bringing its seasonal total to 580. Meanwhile, the Northern and Southern Railway zones have introduced dedicated schedules to connect key routes like Kanpur Central and SMVT Bengaluru.
To further ease the rush, authorities have added 412 extra coaches to existing services, which includes 75 General Class coaches. Additionally, 15 major stations across Bihar will prepare temporary passenger holding areas starting November 3. There is also a proposal currently under consideration to operate 10 duplicate general trains with unreserved ticketing to handle the overflow.
Traveler Advisory: Book Early
Passengers are strongly advised to use the IRCTC platform or official zonal railway websites for bookings. Due to the high demand during the festive season, tickets for major corridors often sell out within 24 to 48 hours of the announcement. Travelers should always verify schedules, timings, and stoppage details through official channels prior to their journey.