Indian Railways has officially commenced ticket reservations for travellers planning their journeys for the upcoming festive season, specifically targeting the heavy rush leading up to Chhath Puja. Passengers can now secure their seats in advance following standard railway schedules.Indian Railways announced that ticket bookings for train travel on November 10, 2026, officially opened on September 11, 2026, at 8:00 AM IST. This timely scheduling aligns seamlessly with the current 60-day Advance Reservation Period (ARP), allowing passengers to reserve their berths precisely sixty days ahead of their intended journey date. As Chhath Puja is widely observed from November 13 to November 16, 2026, with the main day of Sandhya Arghya falling on November 15, the November 10 travel window is strategically positioned to help devotees reach their hometowns comfortably four days prior to the primary festivities.
To streamline the high-demand digital ticketing process, the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has enforced specific guidelines.
Users booking online between 8:00 AM and midnight on the opening day must have an Aadhaar-authenticated account. Passengers who lack this essential verification are restricted from booking tickets until the following day. Furthermore, railway officials strongly recommend that travellers make full use of the
IRCTC 'Master List' feature to pre-save passenger details. This smart step significantly accelerates the checkout process during high-traffic windows when confirmed berths on popular express routes typically sell out within minutes.
To combat the massive surge in passenger traffic during the peak festive season encompassing Dussehra, Diwali, and Chhath Puja, Indian Railways has planned extensive relief measures.
Numerous special trains, frequently categorized as 0-series trains, have been introduced to manage the heavy rush. These special services operate on vital routes connecting major metropolitan urban centers to key destinations across
Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, and West Bengal, effectively alleviating severe congestion on regular express services and ensuring a smoother travel experience for all passengers.
