Eastern Railway Announces 5 Festival Specials for Diwali & Chhath
Eastern Railway launches 5 pairs of unreserved festival special trains for Diwali and Chhath Puja to ease travel to Bihar and UP.
To accommodate the massive surge in passenger traffic during the upcoming Diwali and Chhath Puja festivals, Eastern Railway has announced the operation of five pairs of unreserved (General) festival special trains. These services are specifically designed to provide relief to passengers facing long waiting lists on regular trains, making travel to Bihar and Eastern Uttar Pradesh much smoother without the need for advance reservations.
Key Festival Special Routes and Timings
The new services include several routes aimed at connecting major hubs with festive destinations. Here are the details of the announced special trains:
Howrah–Patna–Howrah (03033/03034)
- Train 03033: Departs Howrah at 5:40 PM and arrives in Patna at 5:00 AM the following day.
- Train 03034: Departs Patna at 6:30 AM and reaches Howrah at 10:15 PM.
Major stoppages for this route include Bandel, Bardhaman, Durgapur, Asansol, Chittaranjan, Jasidih, Jhajha, Kiul, Mokama, Bakhtiyarpur, Fatuha, and Rajendra Nagar.
Sealdah–Jaynagar (03137/03138)
- Departure: Departs Sealdah on November 13, 2026, at 4:40 PM, arriving in Jaynagar at 7:00 AM the next day.
- Return: Departs Jaynagar on November 14 at 10:00 AM.
Sealdah–Ballia (03139/03140)
- Departure: Departs Sealdah on November 11 at 10:05 AM, arriving in Ballia at 4:00 AM on November 12.
- Return: Departs Ballia on November 12 at 7:00 AM.
Kolkata–Gorakhpur (03141/03142)
- Departure: Departs Kolkata on November 13 at 4:40 PM, arriving in Gorakhpur at 11:00 AM on November 14.
- Return: Departs Gorakhpur on November 14 at 1:30 PM.
Travel Information and Additional Services
These special trains primarily feature general second-class coaches, allowing passengers to travel using ordinary tickets. This unreserved format is intended to bypass the heavy demand for reserved seating during the holiday rush.
In addition to these five pairs, Eastern Railway is also operating other festival specials, such as the Howrah–New Delhi and Anand Vihar–Sabour services, to help manage the seasonal holiday demand. Passengers are advised to verify specific schedules, stoppages, and any potential last-minute modifications through official railway websites or station notices.