Indian Railways launches New Jalpaiguri Gomti Nagar festival special train for Diwali and Chhath

Indian Railways has announced the launch of a new festival special train service connecting New Jalpaiguri and Gomti Nagar via Muzaffarpur to accommodate passenger traffic during the upcoming Diwali and Chhath Puja festivities. This strategic move by the Northeast Frontier Railway on September 18, 2026, ensures seamless travel across West Bengal, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh.

The special train service is designed to ease holiday congestion with key operational details outlined below:

• Train Numbers 05742 and 05741 will serve the New Jalpaiguri and Gomti Nagar route.
• Nine total trips will be operated in each direction for this route.
• Departures from New Jalpaiguri are scheduled every Sunday from October 4 to November 29, 2026.
• Return services from Gomti Nagar will depart every Monday from October 5 to November 30, 2026.
• Composition of 20 general second-class coaches will cater to the high volume of travellers.

Route and Stoppages

The comprehensive route covers multiple key towns and cities to benefit regional passengers. The train will make scheduled stops at Siliguri, Thakurganj, Purnia, Katihar, Khagaria, Samastipur, Muzaffarpur, Chhapra, Siwan, Deoria, Gorakhpur, Basti, and Ayodhya Dham. This extensive connectivity ensures that passengers from smaller towns can easily reach their hometowns without facing severe overcrowding on regular daily express trains.

Extension of Muzaffarpur Hadapsar Special

In addition to the New Jalpaiguri service, Indian Railways has officially extended the operational period for the Muzaffarpur-Hadapsar (Pune) special train numbered 05589 and 05590. This service will now complete 10 trips in each direction. Departures from Muzaffarpur will run from September 22 to November 24, 2026, while return journeys from Hadapsar will operate from September 24 to November 26, 2026.

These targeted train operations form a part of a much broader festive initiative by Indian Railways to run over 100 special trains throughout October and November 2026. Passengers planning their holiday journeys can note that tickets for these special services are currently available for booking with an advance reservation period of up to 60 days.