Northern Railway to Run 11 Special Trains for Festive Rush
Northern Railway has announced the operation of 11 pairs of special trains to manage the massive surge in passenger demand during the upcoming festive season. Aimed at alleviating congestion during Dussehra, Diwali, and Chhath Puja, these services are scheduled to run between October 1 and November 30, 2026. This initiative is part of a larger effort by Indian Railways to reduce long waiting lists and ensure smoother travel for commuters on key routes.
In addition to these special pairs, the North Central Railway (NCR) will operate 1,053 'Trains on Demand' (TOD) trips during this 61-day period to further accommodate the traveling public.
Detailed Schedule of Special Services
To cater to specific high-demand corridors, several special services have been organized with specific weekly frequencies:
- Katra-Varanasi-Katra Special (04604/04603): This service will operate on Sundays from Katra (from October 4 to November 29) and on Tuesdays from Varanasi (from October 6 to December 1).
- Jammu Tawi-Varanasi-Jammu Tawi Special (04610/04609): These trains will run on Thursdays from Jammu Tawi (from October 1 to November 26) and on Fridays from Varanasi (from October 2 to November 27).
- New Delhi-Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra Festival Special (04081/04082): Specifically designed for the Dussehra rush, this service will complete four trips in each direction between October 8 and October 12.
Crowd Management and Enhanced Security
With the anticipated heavy footfall at major stations like New Delhi, Anand Vihar Terminal, and Hazrat Nizamuddin, authorities have implemented rigorous security and management measures. To maintain order, mini control rooms have been established, and platform entry will be restricted to passengers holding valid tickets only.
Himanshu Shekhar Upadhyay, Chief Public Relations Officer of Northern Railways, stated that the agency is closely monitoring passenger trends. To prevent overcrowding in existing services, the railway is also attaching additional coaches to several trains.
Dr. Shivam Sharma, CPRO of North Central Railway, noted that this extensive network of special trains is designed to provide vital connectivity between major hubs across Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Punjab, and West Bengal.
Booking and Availability
Passengers looking to travel during the festive period can already secure their seats, as bookings for these special services commenced on September 19, 2026. Railway officials have indicated that the frequency of these special trains may be expanded further depending on real-time passenger demand throughout the season.