18,000 Festival Special Trains for Diwali & Chhath Puja
Indian Railways launches 18,000 festival special trains for Diwali and Chhath Puja to manage passenger rush and improve connectivity.
To accommodate the massive surge in passenger traffic during the upcoming Diwali and Chhath Puja festivities, Indian Railways has announced an extensive network of festival special trains nationwide. Approximately 18,000 special trains are being operated across the country this season to facilitate smoother travel for millions of commuters.
Northern Railway Boosts Capacity by 35%
The Northern Railway zone is significantly scaling up its operations to meet the festive demand. Officials have scheduled 6,200 special train trips within the zone, marking a 35% increase in service frequency compared to the previous year. Additionally, authorities have added extra coaches to nearly 25 major regular train services to boost overall passenger capacity.
New Chandigarh to Purnia Special Service
A major highlight of this festive rollout is the introduction of a special service operating between Chandigarh and Purnia Junction. This service is set to provide essential connectivity for travelers during the peak holiday period.
- Train No. 04514: Scheduled to depart Chandigarh on November 7 and 11 at 10:00 PM, arriving at Yamunanagar-Jagadhri at 11:30 PM.
- Train No. 04513: The return service departs Purnia on November 9 and 13 at 6:50 AM, arriving at Yamunanagar-Jagadhri at 12:38 PM the following day.
The Yamunanagar-Jagadhri railway station will also benefit from improved connectivity via other scheduled festival routes, including the Chandigarh-Barauni and Bathinda-Varanasi special trains.
AI-Powered Crowd Management and Security
Himanshu Shekhar Upadhyay, CPRO of Northern Railway, stated that the organization is prioritizing confirmed ticket availability and an efficient travel experience for all passengers. To manage the high footfall at major stations, AI-based surveillance systems have been deployed to monitor passenger movement in real-time and improve crowd management.
"The organization is prioritizing confirmed ticket availability and an efficient travel experience for all passengers."
Railway officials have also issued strict security guidelines to ensure passenger safety throughout the festive season:
- Passengers are strongly advised to arrive at stations well in advance of their departure to allow sufficient time for security checks.
- The transport of firecrackers, explosives, or any flammable materials on board train services is strictly prohibited.