Diwali Chhath Special Trains: New Howrah-Delhi & Sabour Routes
Indian Railways introduces 45 pairs of Diwali Chhath special trains, including Howrah-New Delhi and Sabour-Anand Vihar routes, to manage festive rush.
To manage the massive passenger surge expected during the upcoming festivities, Indian Railways has announced several Diwali Chhath special trains to ensure smoother travel for commuters. These additional services are designed to alleviate the heavy congestion anticipated during the peak festival season.
Massive Boost in Festive Train Services
Northern Railway is taking a major step to accommodate travelers, planning over 6,200 special train trips. This represents a significant 30% increase in services compared to the previous year. Himanshu Shekhar Upadhyay, Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) of Northern Railway, confirmed that extensive arrangements, including enhanced security at stations, have been finalized to ensure passenger convenience and safety.
The expansion of these services is a direct response to the heavy passenger rush expected during this period, according to Dr. Shivam Sharma, CPRO of North Central Railway.
Key Routes and Detailed Timings
Several strategic routes have been identified to connect major cities and provide relief to passengers. The Asansol Rail Division has shared specific operational details for the New Delhi-Howrah corridor:
- New Delhi-Howrah Special (04052): This service will operate from October 2, 2026, to November 27, 2026. It is scheduled to depart New Delhi every Friday at 6:15 PM, arriving at Howrah at 11:40 PM the following day, completing a total of 9 trips.
- Howrah-New Delhi Special (04051): The return service will operate on selected dates from October 8 to December 1, 2026.
For passengers traveling from Bihar to the capital, Indian Railways has also scheduled special services between Sabour and Anand Vihar Terminal for November 2026. This follows the existing daily reserved services between Anand Vihar Terminal and Bhagalpur (04062/04061), which are set to run from October 10 to November 26, 2026.
Comprehensive Connectivity Plan
To ensure seamless connectivity through the last week of November and the first week of December, the Railway administration has declared a total of 45 pairs of special trains. Eastern Railway is also augmenting its network to support these additional services, ensuring that the festive travel needs of passengers across various regions are met effectively.