Festival Rush: New Special Trains for Chandigarh, Patna & Bihar
To tackle the massive influx of travelers during the upcoming Durga Puja, Diwali, and Chhath Puja festivals, Indian Railways has announced the introduction of several special train services. These measures are designed to alleviate overcrowding and ensure a smoother journey for passengers during the peak festive season.
According to CPRO Saraswati Chandra, Bihar has been identified as a major destination, receiving a significant portion of the planned services. This initiative is part of a massive nationwide effort, with 8,454 special train trips scheduled to operate between October 1 and November 30, 2026.
Chandigarh to Barauni Festival Special Details
The Chandigarh-Barauni Festival Special (04536/04535) will operate six trips to facilitate travel between these key regions.
- Train 04536: Departs Chandigarh at 11:45 PM every Friday (from October 23 to November 27, 2026), arriving in Barauni at 12:30 AM on Sunday.
- Train 04535: Departs Barauni at 2:35 AM on Sunday (from October 25 to November 29, 2026), arriving in Chandigarh at 3:35 AM on Monday.
The route for this service includes several important stops: Ambala Cantt, Yamunanagar, Saharanpur, Moradabad, Bareilly, Shahjahanpur, Sitapur, Gonda, Gorakhpur, Siwan, Chhapra, Sonepur, and Hajipur.
New Unreserved Special Trains
In addition to the festival special, two pairs of unreserved special trains will operate between November 5 and November 15, 2026. Each pair will complete eight trips in both directions.
Shakurbasti-Patna Special (04404/04403)
This service will serve passengers traveling through New Delhi, Ghaziabad, Aligarh, Tundla, and Govindpuri. For those traveling from Patna Junction, departures are scheduled for 3:40 PM on the following dates: November 6, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15.
Shakurbasti-Jhanjharpur Special (04410/04409)
This special service will feature a total of 17 coaches, consisting of 15 general coaches and 2 guard coaches. The train will traverse a route including New Delhi, Ghaziabad, Aligarh, Kanpur, Lucknow (Aishbagh), Gonda, Gorakhpur, Kaptanganj, Narkatiaganj, Raxaul, Sitamarhi, and Shisho.
Massive Festive Operations Planned
Indian Railways is preparing for an enormous operational scale to manage the holiday rush. The department aims to conduct approximately 3.4 lakh regular trips alongside over 8,000 special services across the country during this festive window.
Passengers are encouraged to verify their specific schedules and travel details via the National Train Enquiry System (NTES) or by contacting the railway helpline at 139.