Indian Railways adds coaches to Mandor Express and launches Diwali special trains
Indian Railways is taking proactive steps to manage the massive surge in passenger traffic during the upcoming festive season by introducing temporary capacity enhancements and special train services. Travellers planning their journeys can now benefit from additional coaches and expanded schedules across several popular routes. Ticket bookings for these services officially commenced on September 6, 2026, under the 60-day Advance Reservation Period policy. Here are the key highlights of the new railway arrangements:
- Two extra air-conditioned coaches added temporarily to the Mandor Express.
- Diwali Puja Special weekly trains extended with extra trips starting from October 4, 2026, ahead of Diwali on November 8, 2026.
- Multiple festival special services launched by Northern Railway including routes connecting Varanasi, Ayodhya, Patna, Delhi, and Kolkata.
Mandor Express Upgrades and Adjustments
The Mandor Express, which connects Jodhpur and Delhi, is receiving special operational focus to ease passenger congestion. Authorities have confirmed the addition of two air-conditioned coaches to accommodate the rising festive demand. This popular train has seen several operational adjustments throughout 2026, including a transition in train numbers to 22491/22492 in May. Furthermore, passengers can look forward to a planned upgrade of the train to the modern Amrit Bharat Express standard slated for later in October 2026.Extensive Festival Special Train Network
Alongside the enhancements on the Mandor Express, Indian Railways and Northern Railway have initiated numerous festival special services to ensure smooth travel across the country. Key special train operations include:- 50 trips for the Varanasi-Delhi Festival Special (04209/04210)
- 36 trips for the Ayodhya Cantt-Anand Vihar service
- 18 trips for the Chandigarh-Patna route
- 16 trips for the Firozpur Cantt-Patna connection
- 7 trips for the Mumbai Central-Katihar special
- 13 additional trips for the Dibrugarh-Kolkata special
- 94 trips each for the Bhagalpur-Katihar-Bhagalpur special, extended through November 30, 2026