Indian Railways announces festival special trains for Diwali and Chhath Puja 2026
The Indian Railways is operating festival special trains to manage the heavy passenger rush during the upcoming Diwali and Chhath Puja festivities in 2026. Diwali falls on November 8, 2026, and Chhath Puja falls on November 15, 2026, with peak travel demand expected a few days before and after the celebrations. Passengers can now check the comprehensive schedules and book their tickets to ensure a smooth journey.
- Northern Railway has confirmed 20 major festival special trains connecting cities like Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Punjab, and Maharashtra.
- Key routes include Varanasi-Chandigarh, Firozpur Cantt-Patna, and Anand Vihar Terminal to Jogbani.
- Bookings are open under the 60-day Advance Reservation Period via the IRCTC app, website, and physical counters.
Comprehensive Schedule and Major Routes
To accommodate travellers heading home for the festivities, the railway authorities have planned extensive connectivity. Northern Railway has released a comprehensive schedule for 20 major festival special trains. These services will operate smoothly between major transit hubs including Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Punjab, and Maharashtra. Notable routes announced so far include the Varanasi-Chandigarh service, Firozpur Cantt-Patna route, and services connecting Anand Vihar Terminal to Jogbani, alongside Muzaffarpur and Sitamarhi to Delhi. To cater to all categories of travellers, these trains are equipped with AC second tier, AC third tier, sleeper, and general coach configurations, successfully managing traffic originating from major metropolitan hubs like Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, and Hyderabad.
Booking Windows and IRCTC Guidelines
Bookings for these special services are currently open under Indian Railways' 60-day Advance Reservation Period rule, excluding the actual date of travel. Tickets can be purchased daily starting at 8:00 AM via the IRCTC mobile application, the official website, and physical railway counters. Specifically, booking windows for Diwali travel covering November 6 to November 8 opened between September 7 and September 9, 2026. Meanwhile, bookings for Chhath Puja travel covering November 12 to November 15 are scheduled to open between September 13 and September 16, 2026. Passengers should note that railways permit a maximum of 6 passengers per PNR under the general quota and 4 passengers under the Tatkal quota. To secure confirmed seats swiftly during heavy rush hours, IRCTC strongly recommends that travellers pre-save their passenger profiles in the Master List and utilize Aadhaar-verified accounts for the entire booking process.