Indian Railways launches new special trains between Kanpur and Delhi for festive season

Indian Railways is introducing two pairs of special superfast trains between Kanpur Central and Delhi starting September 7, 2026, to accommodate the increased festive season demand and clear long waiting lists. Passengers can start booking reservations for these services this coming Sunday.

Here are the key details of the newly announced festival special trains and temporary cancellations:

• Train 02456/02455 will operate between New Delhi and Kanpur Central from September 7 to November 30, 2026, running every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.
• Train 02458/02457 will run between Anand Vihar Terminal and Kanpur Central from September 8 to November 29, 2026, operating every Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday.
• Four existing special services are temporarily cancelled between August 28 and September 4, 2026, due to engineering and non-interlocking block work on the Delhi-Kanpur rail corridor.

Complete Schedule of New Special Trains

To manage the massive passenger rush during the upcoming festival months, the Northern Railway zone has released detailed timings for the new services. Train 02456 (New Delhi-Kanpur Central) will depart New Delhi at 7:45 a.m. and arrive in Kanpur Central at 1:15 p.m. Its return service, Train 02455, will depart Kanpur Central at 3:00 p.m. and reach New Delhi at 8:20 p.m. on the same days.

Additionally, Train 02458 (Anand Vihar Terminal-Kanpur Central) will run every Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday, departing at 8:20 a.m. and arriving at 1:15 p.m. The return service, Train 02457, will depart Kanpur Central at 3:00 p.m. and reach Anand Vihar Terminal at 8:10 p.m.

Temporary Cancellations and Engineering Blocks

Railway authorities have announced that four existing special trains will remain cancelled between August 28 and September 4, 2026, to facilitate crucial engineering and non-interlocking block work on the busy Delhi-Kanpur rail corridor. Specifically, Trains 02456 and 02455 are cancelled on August 28, 29, 31, and September 2 and 4. Meanwhile, Trains 02458 and 02457 will be suspended on August 30 and September 1 and 3. Commuters are advised to note these dates before planning their journeys.

Alternative Travel Options and Passenger Advisory

Railway officials strongly recommend that passengers check the National Train Enquiry System (NTES) app or website, or the official IRCTC platform for real-time status updates and seat availability. For travellers affected by the temporary block work, alternative high-speed options currently available on this busy route include the Kanpur-New Delhi Shatabdi (12033/12034), the IRCTC Tejas Express (82501/82502), and the New Delhi-Varanasi Vande Bharat Express (22436). This initiative follows previous special train services successfully operated by Indian Railways to manage passenger surges during the Raksha Bandhan period from August 23 to 31, 2026.