Indian Railways Launches Festival Special Trains Between New Delhi and Howrah
Indian Railways introduces festival special trains between New Delhi and Howrah to manage the high passenger traffic surge during the upcoming festive season. Passengers can now plan their journeys for Durga Puja, Dussehra, Diwali, and Chhath with enhanced travel convenience and assured seat availability. Himanshu Shekhar Upadhyay, Chief Public Relations Officer of Northern Railway, confirmed the operational details for these special services to help travellers avoid last-minute rush and secure confirmed tickets easily. Here are the key highlights of the new festival special train services:
Train numbers 04052 and 04051 will operate between New Delhi and Howrah for nine trips in each direction.
Train 04052 departs New Delhi every Friday from October 2 to November 27, 2026, at 18:15 hours.
Train 04051 departs Howrah every Sunday from October 4 to November 29, 2026, at 01:40 hours.
The train comprises General Second Class, Sleeper, and Air-Conditioned coaches to suit all travel budgets.
Detailed Schedule and Timings
Planning your autumn and winter travel becomes much easier with the official timetable released by Northern Railway. Train number 04052 leaves New Delhi every Friday at 18:15 hours and reaches Howrah at 23:40 hours the following day. On the return journey, train number 04051 departs from Howrah every Sunday from October 4 to November 29, 2026, at 01:40 hours, reaching New Delhi at 08:20 hours the next morning. These well-planned timings help working professionals and families travel comfortably over the weekends during peak holiday months.
Route and Major Halts
To ensure seamless connectivity across multiple states, the special train will halt at numerous major and intermediate stations. The key intermediate stops include Ghaziabad, Aligarh Junction, Tundla, Govindpuri, Subedarganj, Mirzapur, Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyay Junction, Buxar, Ara, Patna Junction, Bakhtiyarpur, Kiul, Jhajha, Jasidih, Madhupur, Chittaranjan, Asansol, Durgapur, Bardhaman, and Bandel stations. This extensive route coverage benefits travellers heading towards Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal.
Ticket Booking Information
Ticket bookings for these special services will open soon on the IRCTC website and at railway reservation counters across the country. Railway officials strongly advise passengers to book tickets early, as high seasonal demand typically leads to quick seat saturation and long waitlists.