8,400+ Special Trains for Diwali and Chhath Puja Rush
Indian Railways announces 8,454 special trains for Diwali and Chhath Puja 2026 to manage the heavy passenger rush across the country.
Indian Railways has significantly expanded its service network to accommodate the massive surge in travelers during the 2026 festive season. To manage the heavy passenger volume, authorities have notified a total of 8,454 Diwali and Chhath Puja special trains as of October 13, 2026.
Northern Railway Leads with 30% More Trips
The Northern Railway is playing a pivotal role in this festive operation, planning more than 6,200 special trips. This represents a substantial 30% increase compared to the 4,666 trips operated during the same period last year, ensuring much-needed connectivity for the holiday rush.
Central Railway Boosts Mumbai and Pune Services
Central Railway has also bolstered its capacity by approving 580 festive special trains. This includes 162 newly announced services departing from Mumbai’s Lokmanya Tilak Terminus and Pune’s Khadki station. These trains are specifically designed to connect passengers to major hubs such as Samastipur, Danapur, Banaras, and Santragachi.
Priority Routes and Regional Allocation
The deployment of these special services is strategically focused on the regions experiencing the highest passenger demand:
- Bihar: 2,057 trips
- Uttar Pradesh: 1,056 trips
- Delhi: 975 trips
- Maharashtra: 836 trips
- West Bengal: 464 trips
New Festive Trains and Unreserved Options
Starting October 31, 2026, five additional trains will commence operations, serving key destinations including Varanasi, New Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kanpur, Anand Vihar, Bhuj, and Barauni. Notable new services include:
- The daily Varanasi-Sabarmati Express
- Shakurbasti-Darbhanga
- Mata Vaishno Devi-Varanasi
- Chandigarh-Patna
- Amritsar-Barauni
- Nizamuddin-Jhansi
- Khatipura-Kamakhya
To assist passengers facing long waiting lists, Northern Railway has also introduced unreserved festival special trains, providing a vital travel option for those unable to secure prior seat reservations.
Crowd Management and Enhanced Security
To handle the intense crowds, West Central Railway and other zones are establishing temporary holding areas at 15 major stations in Bihar, including Patna, Danapur, Muzaffarpur, and Gaya, starting November 3.
Furthermore, authorities are taking several measures to ensure passenger safety and comfort:
- Augmenting regular services with additional AC and sleeper coaches.
- Deploying increased security personnel from the Railway Protection Force (RPF) and Government Railway Police.
Despite these extensive measures, passenger demand remains incredibly high, with ongoing reports of ticket shortages and rising airfares for travel toward Bihar.