ECR Adds 11 Special Trains for Durga Puja & Diwali Rush
To manage the massive influx of passengers during the upcoming 2026 festive season, the East Central Railway (ECR) has announced the operation of 11 additional pairs of special trains. These services are specifically designed to accommodate the significant surge in travel expected during Durga Puja, Diwali, and Chhath Puja.
According to ECR Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) Saraswati Chandra, these new additions bring the total number of festival special trains under ECR jurisdiction to 23 pairs. The services will run throughout October and November 2026, connecting various stations in Bihar to major national hubs such as Delhi, Kolkata, Bengaluru, and Amritsar.
Key Festive Routes and Schedules
The special train services cover a wide range of long-distance routes to ensure smoother travel for commuters. Some of the highlighted services include:
- Hubballi-Muzaffarpur Special (07315/07316): Operating from October 13 to November 27.
- Nagpur-Samastipur Weekly Special (01207/01208): Scheduled from October 21 to November 13.
- Anand Vihar Terminal-Bhagalpur Special (04062/04061): A daily service running from October 10 to November 25.
- Yog Nagari Rishikesh-Kolkata Special (04312/04311): Running from October 16 to November 22.
- Jayanagar-Amritsar Special (04651): Departing on Sundays, Tuesdays, and Fridays from October 18 to December 1.
New Delhi-Patna Vande Bharat Special
In a significant boost to festive connectivity, a new Delhi-Patna Vande Bharat Special Train has been introduced. Starting October 16, this special service is expected to complete the journey in approximately 12 hours and 55 minutes, providing a faster travel option for passengers heading to Bihar.
Additional Festive Services
The ECR initiative also includes several other important weekly and special services to ease the pressure on regular trains. These include:
- Yeshwantpur-Saharsa Weekly Special
- Udhna-Jaynagar Special
- Amritsar-Muzaffarpur Weekly Special
- Tata-Buxar Special (08183/08184), with most operations continuing through late November.
Nationally, Indian Railways has planned a massive operation for the festive period, with approximately 3.4 lakh regular train trips scheduled between October 1 and November 30, 2026. In total, 8,454 special services have been notified across the country to handle the holiday demand.
Railway officials advise all passengers to verify specific stopovers, ticket availability, and precise operational dates through official railway channels before finalizing their travel arrangements.