6,200+ Special Trains for Diwali & Chhath Puja: Northern Railway
Northern Railway announces over 6,200 special train trips for Diwali and Chhath Puja to ease festive travel to UP, Bihar, and West Bengal.
In a massive move to ease the festive rush, Northern Railway Diwali Special Trains and extra services have been announced to accommodate the heavy surge in passenger traffic. To ensure that travelers can reach their homes for the upcoming Diwali and Chhath Puja celebrations, the railway has planned over 6,200 special train trips, marking a significant increase in capacity.
This year's festive arrangement represents a 30% jump compared to the previous year, where 4,666 special trips were organized. These additional services are specifically designed to connect Delhi and other major North Indian cities to key destinations across Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal.
Major Routes and Connectivity
According to Himanshu Shekhar Upadhyay, Chief Public Relations Officer of Northern Railway, the primary goal is to ensure passengers can travel to their hometowns without facing extreme difficulties. The expanded service includes several high-demand routes, such as:
- Delhi-Patna Vande Bharat
- Shakurbasti-Darbhanga
- Mata Vaishno Devi-Varanasi
- Chandigarh-Patna
- Anand Vihar-Patliputra
- New Delhi-Howrah
- Kolkata-Yog Nagari Rishikesh
- Amritsar-Barauni
- New Delhi-Danapur
- Delhi-Kamakhya
- Delhi-Gaya
- Amritsar-Jaynagar
Most of these special services are scheduled to operate between October 1 and November 30, 2026.
Boosting Regular Capacity
Beyond the seasonal special trips, Northern Railway has also taken steps to strengthen the permanent network. The administration has regularized 42 new trains, which are expected to provide approximately 2,600 additional trips during the festive window. This dual approach of special and regular services aims to provide a comprehensive travel solution for the millions of commuters expected on the tracks.
Enhanced Security and Crowd Management
To handle the massive crowds at major stations, Northern Railway is implementing advanced technology and increased manpower. Key measures include:
- Facial Recognition Systems: Integrated to assist in effective crowd management and security.
- Extra Ticket Counters: Opened to reduce waiting times for passengers.
- Increased Staffing: Additional personnel deployed to assist travelers and manage station flow.
- Bolstered Security: Heightened protocols to ensure passenger safety during the peak travel period.