Eastern Railway Launches 6 Special Train Pairs for Festive Rush
Eastern Railway announces 6 new pairs of special trains in November 2026 to manage the post-festival passenger surge. Check schedules and routes here.
To tackle the massive influx of passengers returning to their workplaces after the festive season, Eastern Railway has announced the operation of six additional pairs of reserved and unreserved special trains. This strategic move is designed to ease the travel burden for commuters navigating the post-festival rush.
According to Shibram Majhi, Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) of Eastern Railway, the zone is significantly scaling up its operations. A total of 901 special train trips are scheduled for November 2026, consisting of 626 reserved and 275 unreserved trips. This represents a substantial 20.13% increase in services compared to the previous year.
Key Special Train Routes and Schedules
The service expansion covers several high-demand routes to ensure smoother travel across the zone. The specific schedules are as follows:
- Sealdah–Sitamarhi Special (03143/03144): Scheduled to depart from Sealdah on November 25 and from Sitamarhi on November 26.
- Howrah–Laukaha Bazar Service (03031/03032): This service will operate from Howrah on November 17 and 24, and from Laukaha Bazar on November 18 and 25.
- Bhagalpur–Patna Special (03431/03432): Set to run on November 30.
- Sealdah–Jaynagar Unreserved Special (03137/03138): Operating from Sealdah on November 19 and 26, and from Jaynagar on November 20 and 27.
Enhanced Passenger Amenities and Staffing
To manage the increased footfall and ensure passenger comfort, Eastern Railway has implemented several operational improvements across major stations:
- Station Upgrades: Waiting areas at major hubs, including Howrah, Sealdah, Asansol, and Malda, have been expanded to accommodate more travelers.
- Increased Staff Deployment: The deployment of commercial staff has been boosted by 22.25%, increasing the workforce from 355 to 434 personnel to provide better assistance to passengers.
- Streamlined Ticketing: To reduce congestion at Howrah and Sealdah, ticketing services have been strengthened through enhanced counter services, mobile ticketing, and the expanded use of Automatic Ticket Vending Machines (ATVMs).