Indian Railways opens Diwali 2026 advance ticket booking schedule for November travel

Indian Railways and its ticketing arm IRCTC have announced the train ticket reservation schedule for the upcoming Diwali 2026 festive season. With Diwali falling on Sunday, November 8, 2026, the national transporter is gearing up for a massive surge in passenger traffic across the network.

As per the standard Advance Reservation Period rule of 60 days, ticket bookings for travel on Saturday, November 7, 2026, will open on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, at 8:00 AM IST. Following this, reservations for travel on Diwali day itself, Sunday, November 8, 2026, will become available on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, at 8:00 AM IST. Passengers are advised to note these crucial dates and times to secure their berths in advance.

Mandatory Aadhaar Authentication for Tatkal and Peak Bookings

Officials have strongly reminded travelers that under the policy effective since January 12, 2026, only Aadhaar-authenticated IRCTC accounts are permitted to book reserved tickets between 8:00 AM and midnight on the opening date of reservations. To avoid any last-minute technical glitches or delays, passengers must complete their Aadhaar verification on the official IRCTC portal well ahead of the booking window opening.

Special Festival Trains to Ease Rush

To effectively manage the anticipated heavy rush during the festive period, Indian Railways has planned to operate various festival special trains across multiple routes. These additional services will run from September 11 through December 7, 2026. The introduction of these special trains is aimed at reducing passenger pressure on regular mail and express services while offering travelers ample alternative options to reach their destinations comfortably during the holidays.