Northern Railway Special Trains: 6,200+ Trips for Diwali & Chhath
Northern Railway announces over 6,200 special festive trips to manage the Diwali and Chhath Puja rush, providing 1.7 lakh extra berths.
To tackle the massive passenger surge during the upcoming Diwali Chhath special trains period, Northern Railway has officially kicked off a large-scale expansion of its services. Starting from October 29, 2026, through November 7, 2026, the railway network is deploying 195 additional special train trips to assist travelers, particularly those heading toward the eastern regions of India.
Massive Boost in Seating Capacity
This year, Northern Railway is going much bigger than previous years. The department has planned over 6,200 festive special trips for this season, which marks a significant 30% increase compared to the 4,666 trips operated last year. This massive scale-up is designed to provide approximately 170,434 extra berths to passengers.
Recognizing the needs of different types of travelers, the authorities have ensured that 54,000 of these additional seats are specifically allocated for the unreserved category. Furthermore, 42 newly regularized trains are expected to contribute roughly 2,600 trips throughout the festive period, as confirmed by Northern Railway General Manager Ashok Kumar Verma.
Enhanced Facilities at Major Transit Hubs
Major stations such as New Delhi and Anand Vihar Terminal are receiving special operational focus. To ensure a smoother experience for the millions of commuters, authorities have implemented several upgrades at these hubs, including:
- Establishment of dedicated waiting areas.
- Increased number of ticket counters to reduce queues.
- Bolstered security personnel to manage the crowds.
Chief Public Relations Officer Himanshu Shekhar Upadhyay stated that these comprehensive measures, including increased staff deployment and facility upgrades, are in place to minimize passenger inconvenience during the peak travel season.
Key Routes and Unreserved Special Services
The special services will connect the National Capital Region to a wide array of destinations across the country. Key routes include connections to:
- Bihar & Jharkhand: Patna, Danapur, Muzaffarpur, Jogbani, Saharsa, Jaynagar, Katihar, Darbhanga, Raxaul, Gaya, and Patliputra.
- Uttar Pradesh & Uttarakhand: Gorakhpur, Varanasi, and Yog Nagari Rishikesh.
- West Bengal: Howrah and Kolkata.
- Other Major Destinations: Shri Vaishno Devi Katra, Amritsar, Barauni, and Kamakhya.
Additionally, specific unreserved special trains have been scheduled to operate on the Hazrat Nizamuddin-Jhansi and Ghaziabad-Aligarh routes between November 5 and November 8, 2026, to cater to short-distance festive travelers.