Festive Rush: Indian Railways Announces 8,454 Special Train Trips
Indian Railways has unveiled an extensive operational plan to manage the massive passenger surge expected during the upcoming Diwali and Chhath Puja festivals. To ensure smooth travel for millions of commuters, the national carrier has scheduled a comprehensive range of services spanning from October 1 to November 30, 2026.
The plan includes approximately 3.4 lakh regular train trips, which marks an increase of over 16,000 trips compared to the previous year. To further accommodate the heavy demand, 8,454 special train trips have been notified as of mid-October 2026.
Major Beneficiaries: Bihar and Uttar Pradesh
The festive rush is expected to be most significant in the eastern and northern belts. Bihar and Uttar Pradesh have emerged as the primary beneficiaries of these expanded services. The distribution of notified special trips across key regions is as follows:
- Bihar: 2,057 special trips
- Uttar Pradesh: 1,056 special trips
- Delhi: 975 trips
- Maharashtra: 836 trips
- West Bengal: 464 trips
In terms of regular service capacity, the scale of operations is immense, with more than 37,000 trips scheduled for Uttar Pradesh, over 31,000 for Bihar, and more than 27,000 for West Bengal.
New Puja Specials and Vande Bharat Proposal
To specifically address the needs of travelers during the puja season, the railways have announced 11 pairs of Puja Special trains connecting various cities within Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. Additionally, Central Railway has significantly bolstered its operations by adding 162 additional services, bringing its total festive services to 580.
A major highlight of this festive season is the potential introduction of a Vande Bharat Special train. The Railway Board is currently reviewing a proposal for a service connecting New Delhi and Patna, which could potentially commence operations as early as October 16, 2026.
Other major routes being prioritized with special services include:
- Varanasi to Delhi
- Ayodhya Cantt to Anand Vihar
- Chandigarh to Patna
- Firozpur Cantt to Patna
- Kanpur Central to SMVT Bengaluru
- Hubballi to Muzaffarpur
Increased Coach Capacity and Booking Tips
To maximize seating availability, Indian Railways has added 412 extra coaches to existing services. This includes 75 General Class coaches to assist passengers traveling without reserved berths.
For passengers planning their festive travel, officials have noted that booking for these special services typically opens four to six weeks in advance. This provides a vital alternative for travelers who may have missed the standard 120-day booking window for regular train services.