Indian Railways is launching a massive travel plan to help passengers commute smoothly during the upcoming festive season by operating 12,000 special train services between September 11 and December 7, 2026. This extensive arrangement covers major celebrations including Dussehra, Diwali, and Chhath Puja, with a strong focus on high-demand routes leading to Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Punjab, and Uttarakhand. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw stated that a significant portion of these 12,000 special trains will operate from November 1 to 15. To make travel more affordable and convenient, passengers traveling between October 13 and 26 for outbound trips, and between November 17 and December 1 for return journeys, will receive a 20 percent discount on return tickets. Furthermore, senior railway officials have confirmed that direct train services are being established to connect northern and southern hubs directly, which will minimize the need for stressful passenger transfers.
Festive ticket bookings are structured carefully around key dates. With Diwali falling on
November 8, 2026, and Chhath Puja spanning
November 12 to 15, general bookings for the Diwali period opened on
September 7, while reservations for Chhath Puja were available from
September 13 to 16. During the initial window of
September 7 to 8 alone, IRCTC successfully processed approximately
4 million ticket bookings. For last-minute travelers,
Tatkal bookings remain available one day prior to departure from the originating station, starting precisely at
10:00 AM IST for AC classes and
11:00 AM IST for non-AC sleeper classes. The standard
60-day Advance Reservation Period (ARP) applies to regular bookings, excluding the actual date of travel.
Passengers should note that special trains marked with a
'0' series number utilize a unique fare structure. This includes a
10 percent surcharge for second class (2S) and a
30 percent surcharge for sleeper and AC classes, with
no concessions permitted under any category. When it comes to cancellations, e-tickets are subject to tiered deductions: passengers lose
25 percent for cancellations made 72 to 24 hours before departure, and
50 percent for cancellations between 24 to 8 hours before departure. It is important to remember that
no refunds are provided for Tatkal tickets unless the train service itself is officially canceled by the railways. Additionally, any waitlisted e-tickets that remain unconfirmed after the final chart is prepared will be
automatically canceled.
Highlighting regional connectivity, the Eastern Railway announced on
September 11, 2026, special services connecting West Bengal and Assam. This includes the
Howrah-Lumding Puja Special (03005), which operates every Friday from
October 16 to November 27, and its return counterpart, the
Lumding-Howrah Puja Special (03006), running every Saturday from
October 17 to November 28. These targeted routes ensure that travelers from the eastern sector enjoy a seamless journey to their destinations during the peak festive rush.
