Festive Rush: Indian Railways Adds 7 Special Train Pairs
Indian Railways announces 7 pairs of special trains and 40 extra trips to manage the Diwali and Chhath Puja passenger rush.
Indian Railways has announced the introduction of seven pairs of special trains to manage the anticipated passenger rush during the upcoming Diwali and Chhath Puja festival season. These new services, which include 40 additional trips, are designed to connect major cities such as Mumbai, Haridwar, and Chennai to high-demand destinations across the country.
Managing the Festive Surge
This initiative is part of a massive logistical strategy to accommodate travelers during the peak festive period. The Railway Minister had previously outlined a target of 12,000 special train operations for the season. To put this into perspective, Indian Railways has planned approximately 3.4 lakh regular train trips between October 1 and November 30, 2026.
As of October 13, 2026, a total of 8,454 special train trips had already been notified. The Northern Railway is playing a significant role in this rollout, having scheduled over 6,200 trips—a notable 30% increase compared to the 4,666 trips provided during the same period last year.
Key Routes and New Services
The special train services, often referred to as 'Trains on Demand' (TODs), are being managed across several zones, including Northern, North Central, Western, Central, and Eastern Railways. Several specific routes have been identified to help passengers reach their destinations:
- Ludhiana Connectivity: Special services running between Ludhiana and Saharsa, Darbhanga, Gaya, and Kolkata.
- Unreserved Services: Additional unreserved trains between Ghaziabad-Aligarh and Hazrat Nizamuddin-Virangana Lakshmibai Jhansi.
- Western Railway Updates: Special trains introduced between Udhna, Surat, and Madhubani.
Khatipura-Kamakhya Special Details
One of the specific long-distance services highlighted is the 09711/09712 Khatipura-Kamakhya special. This service will utilize 20-coach rakes equipped with AC, sleeper, and general classes to cater to different passenger needs.
- 09711 (Khatipura to Kamakhya): Will operate every Thursday from October 29 to November 26, 2026.
- 09712 (Kamakhya to Khatipura): Will operate every Saturday from October 31 to November 28, 2026.
Important Information for Passengers
While these special services provide much-needed connectivity, passengers should be aware of the fare structure. These are special-fare trains (0-series), which carry a surcharge. The additional costs are approximately:
- 10% surcharge on second-class tickets.
- 30% surcharge on sleeper and AC categories.
Please note that no concessions are permitted on these special services. To ensure a smooth journey, Himanshu Shekhar Upadhyay, CPRO of Northern Railway, confirmed that enhanced arrangements have been deployed, including increased security and extra ticket counters at stations.
With Diwali falling on November 8, 2026, and Chhath Puja celebrations scheduled from November 13 through November 16, 2026, passengers are strongly advised to confirm their schedules via official railway channels before planning their travel.