ECR Announces 13 Special Train Pairs for Durga Puja & Chhath
To accommodate the massive surge of passengers expected during the 2026 festive season, East Central Railway (ECR) has announced the operation of 13 pairs of festival special trains. These 26 services aim to ease the travel burden for commuters during the Durga Puja, Diwali, and Chhath Puja celebrations.
Key Routes and Special Train Schedules
The newly announced East Central Railway special trains will operate on vital routes throughout October and November 2026. Major connections include services from Anand Vihar Terminal and Yog Nagari Rishikesh to Muzaffarpur, as well as routes from Delhi to Sitamarhi and Darbhanga.
In addition to these new services, several existing trains have been extended or scheduled to handle the seasonal demand:
- Patna-Islampur-Patna Special (03297/03298): Scheduled to run for 26 trips between October 1 and November 30, 2026.
- Yog Nagari Rishikesh-Muzaffarpur Special (04314/04313): This service has been extended to run from October 4 through November 29.
- New Delhi-Supaul Special (04072/04071): This will operate as a daily service from October 1 to November 28, 2026, completing a total of 118 trips.
Furthermore, Indian Railways has introduced an additional 12 pairs of festival special trains specifically targeting passengers traveling to Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.
Enhanced Safety and Passenger Convenience Measures
To ensure a smooth experience for travelers, Dimpy Garg, General Manager of East Central Railway, has directed officials to implement strict safety and convenience protocols. The railway is prioritizing crowd management through several key initiatives:
- Crowd Monitoring: The establishment of 24/7 'war rooms' to monitor passenger density in real-time.
- Station Facilities: Creation of dedicated station holding areas equipped with medical booths and drinking water facilities.
- Security Deployment: Increased presence of Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel across platforms, foot overbridges, and circulating areas to manage queues for general coaches.
Wider Festive Train Network Across India
The festive preparations extend beyond the East Central zone, with other railway divisions also ramping up services:
Eastern Railway Updates
The Eastern Railway has scheduled 29 special trains, totaling 598 trips, between October 1 and November 30. These services will originate from Howrah and Kolkata, connecting to destinations such as Bhagalpur, Amritsar, and Anand Vihar Terminal.
Central Railway Updates
Simultaneously, Central Railway is planning a massive operation of 418 special services. These trains will depart from major hubs including Mumbai, Pune, and Nagpur throughout the October-November period.
Due to the high anticipated demand, railway authorities have strongly advised all passengers to secure their bookings well in advance.