Diwali & Chhath Puja: 6,200+ Special Trains & New Travel Rules
Indian Railways announces 6,200+ special trains and strict crowd control rules for Diwali and Chhath Puja to manage the festive passenger surge.
To accommodate the massive surge in passenger traffic during the upcoming Diwali and Chhath Puja festivals, Indian Railways has announced a significant expansion of rail services. With thousands of commuters expected to travel across the country, the railway authorities are deploying over 6,200 special train trips managed by the Northern Railway to ease congestion on high-demand routes.
Massive Expansion of Special Train Services
The special services are specifically designed to connect the Delhi and NCR regions to major hubs in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal. Key routes receiving extra capacity include:
- New Delhi to Gorakhpur: Train Nos. 04022/04021
- Anand Vihar to Chhapra
- New Delhi to Howrah
- Delhi to Patna
- Shakurbasti to Darbhanga
- Chandigarh to Patna
Additionally, the Eastern Railway has deployed fully unreserved special trains to assist passengers traveling from West Bengal stations like Sealdah, Kolkata, and Howrah to destinations such as Jaynagar, Ballia, Gorakhpur, and Muzaffarpur.
Strict Crowd Control and Platform Ticket Ban
To manage the heavy influx of travelers and ensure passenger safety, the Northern Railway has implemented stringent access restrictions at several major stations. To reduce unnecessary crowding, the sale of platform tickets will be suspended from November 3 to November 14, 2026, at the following locations:
- New Delhi
- Delhi Junction
- Hazrat Nizamuddin
- Ghaziabad
- Anand Vihar Terminal
- Anand Vihar Halt
Entry to these stations will generally be restricted to passengers holding confirmed tickets. Exceptions will only be made for individuals assisting the elderly, the sick, the specially-abled, or those requiring specific travel aid.
Parcel Booking Restrictions to Prioritize Passengers
In a strategic move to prioritize passenger movement, Indian Railways has also introduced temporary restrictions on parcel bookings. Departmental parcel bookings will be halted at New Delhi, Anand Vihar, and Delhi Junction from November 3 to November 15, 2026. Furthermore, the loading and unloading of all parcel types will be suspended at these stations from November 5 to November 15, 2026.
Similar restrictions will be in effect at Hazrat Nizamuddin from November 5 to November 8, 2026.
Himanshu Shekhar Upadhyay, the Northern Railway Chief Public Relations Officer, noted that these measures are essential to reduce overcrowding and ensure a safer, more efficient journey for bonafide passengers during the festive peak.
Traveler Advisory
Passengers are strongly advised to verify real-time schedules, specific train numbers, and seat availability through the IRCTC website, the NTES App, or official railway enquiry channels before planning their journey.