Indian Railways starts Diwali 2026 train ticket bookings and festival special services
Indian Railways officially commenced train ticket bookings for the upcoming Diwali festival period on September 6, 2026, at 8:00 AM. Diwali will be celebrated on November 8, 2026, and the booking window is now active under the revised 60-day Advance Reservation Period (ARP) policy to help passengers plan their holiday travel smoothly.
* Indian Railways opened Diwali ticket bookings on September 6, 2026.
* Special festival services are introduced for Dussehra, Diwali, and Chhath.
* Northern Railway launched key routes connecting Delhi to Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
* Passengers should verify schedules via official channels or contact RailMadad at 139.
Festival Special Trains and Routes
To manage the massive surge in passenger traffic during the festive season spanning Dussehra, Diwali, and Chhath, Indian Railways has introduced numerous Festival Special Trains across the country. Northern Railway has confirmed vital additional services connecting Delhi to major destinations in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. This includes the 04090/04089 New Delhi-Danapur Reserved Special Express, which operates from September 4 to September 25, 2026.
Other prominent operational routes include the 04213/04214 Ayodhya Cantt-Anand Vihar Terminal Reserved Special Express and the 04217/04218 Varanasi-Anand Vihar Terminal Reserved Special Express, both of which commenced services on September 3, 2026.
Expanded Nationwide Connectivity
Beyond the capital region, additional festival special services have been scheduled across multiple zones through December 2026. These trains provide crucial connectivity on high-demand corridors, covering routes such as Mumbai Central to Katihar, Kanpur Central to Guwahati, Katihar to Amritsar, and Dibrugarh to Kolkata.
Rail authorities strongly advise passengers to book tickets as early as possible to avoid heavy last-minute congestion and ensure a comfortable journey. Travelers are encouraged to verify updated train schedules, live seat availability, and specific route information through official railway enquiry services or by reaching out to RailMadad at 139.