Khajuraho-Delhi Festival Special Train for Diwali
To manage the massive surge in passenger traffic during the upcoming Diwali and Chhath Puja festivities, Indian Railways has introduced a new festival special train service connecting the Bundelkhand region to Delhi. The new service will provide much-needed connectivity for travelers heading from Khajuraho to Hazrat Nizamuddin.
New Khajuraho-Hazrat Nizamuddin Special Service
The newly introduced service, operating under train numbers 01913 and 01914, is designed to accommodate the festive rush. This special service replaces the Khajuraho-Rundhi Festival Express (01829/01830), which has been cancelled due to operational reasons. While the cancelled train was originally scheduled to run from mid-October to mid-November, this new special service will operate from October 22 to November 19, 2026.
Train Schedule and Timings
The festival special will run three days a week, specifically every Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday. Passengers can plan their journeys according to the following schedule:
- Train 01913 (Khajuraho to Hazrat Nizamuddin): Departs Khajuraho at 10:15 PM and arrives at Hazrat Nizamuddin at 11:00 AM the following day.
- Train 01914 (Hazrat Nizamuddin to Khajuraho): Departs Hazrat Nizamuddin at 12:30 PM and arrives in Khajuraho at 3:30 AM the next day.
Coach Composition and Key Stops
The train will consist of 20 ICF coaches to cater to various passenger needs, including:
- 5 Sleeper Class coaches
- 12 General Class coaches
- 1 AC Three-Tier coach
- 2 SLR/D coaches
The service will provide halts at several important stations, ensuring better access for passengers across the region. Key stops include Duriaganj, Maharaja Chhatrasal Chhatarpur, Tikamgarh, Dailwara Chord Line, Veerangana Laxmibai Jhansi, Datia, Dabra, Gwalior, Morena, Dholpur, Agra Cantt, Mathura, and Kosi Kalan.
Massive Festive Preparedness by Indian Railways
This special train is part of a much larger effort by the railways to handle the holiday season. According to Northern Railway CPRO Himanshu Shekhar Upadhyay, Indian Railways has notified 8,454 special train trips for the festival period up to October 13. This is in addition to approximately 3.4 lakh regular train trips scheduled to operate between October 1 and November 30, 2026.
Further details regarding additional unreserved trains and specific schedules are expected to be announced following final clearance from the operations department and confirmation of rake availability.