Indian Railways launches festival special trains for Delhi and Mumbai
Indian Railways is operating a comprehensive series of special train services from September 9 through December 7, 2026, to alleviate heavy passenger demand during the upcoming Dussehra, Diwali, and Chhath Puja festivals, connecting major hubs like Delhi and Mumbai with key destinations across Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, and Chandigarh.
Northern, East Central, and Western Railways are operating festival special services from September 9 through December 7, 2026.
Advance reservations for the festival period opened on September 6, 2026, with bookings available up to 60 days in advance via IRCTC.
Specific routes include the New Delhi-Danapur Special (04090/04089), Anand Vihar-Muzaffarpur Special (05219/05220), and Hazrat Nizamuddin-Dadar Superfast Weekly Special (04002/04001).
Major Train Services and Schedules
To manage the festive rush efficiently, several key routes have been announced. The New Delhi-Danapur Reserved Special Express (04090/04089) will complete eight trips through September, departing New Delhi on Friday nights. The Anand Vihar Terminal-Muzaffarpur Special (05219/05220) is scheduled to run from September 11 to November 28, featuring stops at stations including Hajipur, Patliputra, and Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Junction. Additionally, the Hazrat Nizamuddin-Dadar Reserved Superfast Weekly Special (04002/04001) will serve the Mumbai corridor on a weekly basis, while the New Delhi-Patna Puja Special (04087/04088) will operate daily from October 10 to November 25. Other notable additions include the Ayodhya Cantt-Anand Vihar Terminal Express with 36 trips and the Varanasi-Delhi Junction Festival Special operating 50 trips.
Booking and Cancellation Guidelines
Tickets can be booked up to 60 days in advance via IRCTC. Official guidelines stipulate that Tatkal bookings open at 10:00 AM for AC coaches and 11:00 AM for non-AC coaches. Refund policies are strictly enforced: full automatic refunds are issued for railway-cancelled trains, while cancellations within 72 to 24 hours incur a 25% deduction, increasing to 50% for cancellations between 24 and 8 hours before departure. No refunds are provided within eight hours of the scheduled departure time.
Important Travel Tips for Passengers
Indian Railways advises passengers to utilize the 'Special Trains' filter on IRCTC for availability and to ensure passenger lists are saved for rapid booking. Unutilized quotas, including VIP and emergency allotments, will transition into the general pool under 'Current Reservation' status four to eight hours before train departures. Passengers may also modify their boarding point online up to 30 minutes before the preparation of the second reservation chart.