Northern Railway: 6,200+ Special Trains for Diwali & Chhath Rush
Northern Railway announces 6,200+ special trips for Diwali and Chhath Puja 2026 to ease passenger rush. Check new routes and schedules.
To manage the massive surge in passenger traffic during the upcoming 2026 Diwali and Chhath Puja season, Northern Railway has announced a massive expansion of its festival special train services. The railway operator plans to run over 6,200 special trips this year, marking a significant 30% increase compared to the 4,666 trips conducted during the previous year's festive period.
New Unreserved Services and Major Routes
Among the most notable additions is an unreserved festival special service connecting Saharanpur and Varanasi. Train number 04552 is scheduled to depart from Saharanpur at 2:00 PM on October 30, while its return counterpart, train number 04551, will depart from Varanasi at 2:00 PM on November 2. This service will provide essential connectivity with scheduled stoppages at:
- Moradabad
- Bareilly
- Shahjahanpur
- Hardoi
- Raebareli
- Pratapgarh
- Janghai
Connecting Punjab to Bihar and West Bengal
To tackle the heavy waiting lists faced by travelers from Punjab, Northern Railway has introduced five special trains originating from Ludhiana and Sirhind. These services will cater to passengers heading towards destinations in Bihar and West Bengal, including Saharsa, Darbhanga, Gaya, and Kolkata.
Other key services include:
- Ludhiana to Gaya: A reserved festival special (train number 04664) starting November 12.
- Anand Vihar Terminal to Bhagalpur: A proposed reserved special expected to launch around November 6.
- Khatipura to Kamakhya: Train number 09712 will operate five trips between October 31 and November 28.
Ambala Division and Nationwide Specials
The Ambala division has stepped up its efforts by introducing 19 special trains to connect various regions. These include routes from Chandigarh to Barauni and Patna, as well as services from Amritsar to Katihar, Kolkata, and Chhapra.
Furthermore, Indian Railways will operate special services on the Pune-Danapur-Hadapsar route to ensure smooth travel for festive commuters.
Booking Information and Fare Details
Passengers can book their tickets through the IRCTC portal or at PRS counters. It is important to note that these services operate under the Train On Special Fare (TOSF) tariff, meaning fares may be adjusted between 10% and 30% higher than regular rates.
For passengers on the waiting list, the 'VIKALP' scheme is available to help secure confirmed berths on alternate services. Northern Railway CPRO Himanshu Shekhar Upadhyay has advised passengers to verify all route and timing details via the National Train Enquiry System (NTES) or Rail Madad before planning their journeys.