Post-Diwali Rush: Long Waiting Lists on UP-Mumbai-Delhi Routes
The festive season has left a massive trail of travel headaches for commuters. As the post-Diwali rush intensifies, passengers attempting to travel between November 8 and November 13, 2026, are facing critical seat shortages across several major railway corridors.
Major routes connecting Uttar Pradesh to Delhi and Mumbai are currently witnessing a "no room" status in both sleeper and AC classes. The surge in demand has pushed waiting lists to alarming levels, making it extremely difficult for travelers to secure confirmed berths.
Major Routes and Trains Facing Heavy Congestion
Travelers departing from Agra towards Howrah, Mumbai, and South India are among the hardest hit. The demand has created a bottleneck for several long-distance services:
- Bikaner-Howrah Superfast (22308): This service has reported a waiting list exceeding 77 in the sleeper class.
- Howrah Garib Rath Express: Currently recording a waiting list of 29 in Third AC.
- Punjab Mail (12138): This vital link from Agra Cantt to Mumbai is seeing heavy demand, with a sleeper class waiting list of 28 and 8 in Third AC. For specific travel dates like November 10 and 13, the congestion is even higher, with waiting lists of 5 in AC First, 8 in AC Second, and 18 in Third AC.
- Mangala Express (12618): This train is also experiencing significant passenger congestion.
Lucknow to Delhi Routes Under Pressure
The strain is equally evident on services running from Lucknow to Delhi. Between November 9 and November 11, the following trends were observed:
- Lucknow Mail: The sleeper class waiting list surged to 112, while its Third AC waiting list jumped from 21 to 80.
- AC Express: The Third AC waiting list saw a sharp increase from 13 to 72.
Other Impacted Services
Beyond the major corridors, several other popular trains are also feeling the heat of the post-festival demand, including the Ayodhya Express, Gomti Express, Kaifiyat Express, and Vaishali Express.
How to Secure Your Travel
To manage this overwhelming pressure, Indian Railways has introduced various festival special trains and additional services to accommodate the extra passenger load.
Passengers may also look to access over 6,800 Tatkal quota seats to help secure their travel during this peak period.
Authorities advise all passengers to verify real-time seat availability and current waiting list status via the IRCTC platform before finalizing any travel itineraries.