Northern Railway Diwali & Chhath Puja Special Trains
Northern Railway announces unreserved special trains for Diwali and Chhath Puja 2026, plus a new travel insurance scheme for PRS passengers.
To manage the heavy passenger surge expected during the upcoming festive season, Northern Railway has announced several Diwali Chhath Puja special trains. These unreserved services are set to begin operations on November 5, 2026, aimed at easing the travel burden for commuters heading home for the holidays.
New EMU Services for Short Routes
For passengers traveling between key regional hubs, Northern Railway is introducing special EMU services. These include:
- Nizamuddin-Jhansi (04412/04411): This service will complete three trips, passing through Agra and Mathura.
- Ghaziabad-Aligarh (04414/04413): Also operating three trips, this EMU service will also serve the Agra and Mathura routes.
Enhanced Connectivity to Bihar and Purvanchal
A major part of the festive plan involves expanding connectivity to the Purvanchal and Bihar regions. The Shakurbasti-Jhunjharpur special (04410/04409) will be a key service during November.
The schedule for the Shakurbasti-Jhunjharpur service is as follows:
- Delhi-bound services: Running from November 6–8 and November 11–15.
- Jhunjharpur-bound services: Running from November 5–7 and November 10–14.
This train will pass through several major stations, including New Delhi, Ghaziabad, Aligarh, Kanpur Central, Unnao, Lucknow, and Gonda.
Shakurbasti-Mansi Unreserved Specials
Additionally, the Shakurbasti-Mansi unreserved festival special (04406/04405) will complete eight trips in both directions throughout November. This service, which passes through Gorakhpur, offers both general second-class and sleeper class coaches. Notably, sleeper accommodation will be available on unreserved tickets.
For the 04406 service, the schedule is:
- Departure from Shakurbasti: 7:10 PM
- Arrival at New Delhi: 8:00 PM
- Arrival at Ghaziabad: 8:55 PM
The train will continue its journey through Aligarh, Tundla, Etawah, Kanpur Central, and Lucknow.
New Travel Insurance for PRS Passengers
In a significant move to enhance passenger safety, Indian Railways has introduced an optional travel insurance scheme for those booking tickets at Passenger Reservation System (PRS) counters. Effective from October 27, 2026, this scheme expands on the previous coverage that was limited to IRCTC e-tickets.
The new scheme provides compensation of up to ₹10 lakh in the event of accidents, for a minimal premium of just 45 paise per passenger.
To avail of this insurance, passengers must provide a valid mobile number and complete the transaction using digital payment methods.