Indian Railways extends Lalkuan Kolkata and Chhapra Pathankot festival specials
Indian Railways extends festival special trains to help passengers travel easily during Durga Puja Diwali and Chhath Puja. These services cover routes like Lalkuan Kolkata and Chhapra Pathankot to manage heavy passenger rush between October and November 2026. Here are the key highlights of the extended railway services:
- Eight additional trips announced for Lalkuan-Kolkata and Chhapra-Pathankot special trains.
- Services operate through key stations including Gorakhpur and Basti during October and November 2026.
- No changes in route timings and coach composition as confirmed by the North Eastern Railway.
- Supplemental services also confirmed by Eastern Railway and Northeast Frontier Railway for North Bengal and Assam.
Schedule of Lalkuan Kolkata Festival Specials
To ensure smooth travel during the busy festive months, the 05060 Lalkuan-Kolkata Weekly Special Express will run eight additional trips every Thursday from October 8 to November 26, 2026. For the return direction, the 05059 Kolkata-Lalkuan Weekly Special Express will operate eight additional trips every Saturday from October 10 to November 28, 2026. Mahesh Yadav, Senior Divisional Commercial Manager of the Moradabad Division, stated that these extensions were implemented specifically to accommodate the increased passenger flow.
Schedule of Chhapra Pathankot Festival Specials
For passengers heading towards Punjab and Bihar, the 05193 Chhapra-Pathankot Weekly Special Express is set for eight additional trips every Monday from October 5 to November 23, 2026. Its return service, the 05194 Pathankot-Chhapra Weekly Special Express, will run every Wednesday from October 7 to November 25, 2026. Himanshu Shekhar Upadhyay, spokesperson for Northern Railway, confirmed that this extension addresses the heavy travel demand during the Diwali and Chhath festivities.
Important Details for Travellers
The North Eastern Railway clarified that the route, timings, stoppages, and coach composition for these trains will remain unchanged during the extended period. Passengers can book their tickets in advance through the IRCTC portal or railway reservation counters. Additionally, other zones like the Eastern Railway and Northeast Frontier Railway have stepped up to confirm supplemental services for routes serving North Bengal and Assam to further support festive travel and ensure a comfortable journey for everyone.