Northern Railway: 22 Special Trains for Diwali & Chhath Puja
Northern Railway announces 22 special trains for Diwali and Chhath Puja to handle passenger rush to Bihar, UP, and Delhi. Check routes here.
To tackle the massive passenger surge during the upcoming festive season, Northern Railway has announced a massive operational plan featuring Diwali Chhath Puja special trains. The zone is set to operate over 6,200 special train trips, marking a significant 30% increase compared to the 4,666 trips provided during the same period last year.
Major Festive Connections to Delhi and Bihar
A total of 22 specific festival special trains have been deployed to cater to travelers heading towards Delhi, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Jammu. Key services include:
- Gaya to New Delhi (03697/03698): Bi-weekly services running from November 7 to November 29.
- Patna to Anand Vihar (03293/03294): Daily services operating from November 5 to November 22.
- Muzaffarpur to Anand Vihar (05283/05284): Weekly services scheduled for November 21 and November 28.
Regional and Unreserved Special Services
To bolster regional connectivity, several reserved services have been introduced to help commuters reach their destinations more comfortably:
- New Delhi–Gorakhpur (04022/04021)
- Anand Vihar Terminal–Chhapra (04058/04057)
- Hazrat Nizamuddin to Jhansi (04412/04411)
- Ghaziabad to Aligarh (04414/04413)
For short-distance travelers, unreserved special services will operate between Srinagar and Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra on November 5 and 6.
Service Extensions and Station Readiness
Northern Railway has also extended existing services to accommodate more passengers. The New Delhi–Agra Cantt. Intercity Express has been extended to Bhamawali Halt, while the Delhi–Ghaziabad EMU has been extended to Aligarh Junction. These extensions remain effective through November 14, 2026.
To ensure smooth operations during the rush, the following measures have been implemented:
- Deployment of additional staff at major stations.
- Opening of extra ticket counters to reduce waiting times.
- Enhanced security arrangements to manage the increased footfall.
Booking and Real-Time Updates
Passengers can book tickets for these reserved services through the IRCTC portal or at railway reservation counters. Please note the following regarding fares:
These special services are subject to 'Train on Special Fare' (TOSF) tariffs.
For real-time information regarding seat availability, timings, and stoppages, travelers are advised to use:
- The NTES app or the official railway website.
- The railway helpline at 139.
- Northern Railway’s official social media channels.