Northern Railway: 6,200+ Special Trains for Diwali & Chhath
Northern Railway launches 6,200+ special trains for Diwali and Chhath festivals to manage passenger rush. Check routes and schedules here.
To accommodate the massive surge in passenger traffic during the upcoming Diwali and Chhath festivals, Northern Railway has announced a massive boost to its services, launching over 6,200 special train trips. This initiative represents a significant 30% increase in operations compared to the previous year, aimed at ensuring smoother travel for millions of commuters.
Major Routes and Festive Connectivity
The special services are designed to provide vital links between northern cities and key destinations across Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal. Major routes being serviced include:
- Delhi-Patna and Anand Vihar-Patliputra
- New Delhi-Howrah and New Delhi-Danapur
- Amritsar-Barauni and Amritsar-Jaynagar
- Chandigarh-Patna and Shakurbasti-Darbhanga
- Mata Vaishno Devi-Varanasi
- Kolkata-Yog Nagari Rishikesh
- Delhi-Kamakhya and Delhi-Gaya
Furthermore, five dedicated festival special trains will operate from Ludhiana to Saharsa, Darbhanga, Gaya, and Kolkata. For those looking for more budget-friendly options, an unreserved service has also been scheduled between Sirhind and Saharsa.
Key Special Train Schedules
Among the specific services highlighted to manage the festive rush are two pairs of unreserved special trains:
- Hazrat Nizamuddin-Virangana Lakshmibai Jhansi Special (04412/04411): This service is scheduled to run three trips between November 5 and November 8, 2026.
- Ghaziabad-Aligarh Junction-Ghaziabad EMU Special (04414/04413): An unreserved EMU service to assist local travelers.
Capacity Expansion and Security Measures
Northern Railway General Manager Ashok Kumar Verma stated that the network is currently operating over 4,700 special train trips, a notable increase from the 3,800 trips run last year. To further ease the pressure on regular services, the railway has implemented coach augmentation, adding approximately 2.70 lakh additional seats to regular trains.
To maintain order and safety at major stations, especially in the Delhi region, several strict measures have been put in place:
- Increased Security: 2,100 additional Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel have been deployed across major Delhi stations to manage crowds.
- Station Management: The sale of platform tickets has been restricted to ensure orderly station operations and prevent congestion.
- Parcel Services: To prioritize passenger movement, parcel offices will remain closed for a period of ten days.