The Indian Railways has announced a special train schedule to handle the expected rush during Diwali and Chhath Puja. A total of 45 special trains will be operated by Northern Railway and East Central Railway during the festive season.
The additional services will focus on busy routes linking Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Punjab and West Bengal. Several weekly and biweekly trains have been planned to provide more travel options for passengers heading home for the festivals.
The special services will connect important stations including Kanpur, Prayagraj, Ayodhya, Patna, Saharsa and Ambala with Howrah and other major destinations.
Special Trains Connecting Delhi and Bihar
Among the announced services, Train No. 04028-04027, the Anand Vihar–Muzaffarpur Special, will make nine trips between October 5 and November 30. It will depart from Anand Vihar Terminal every Monday.
Train No. 04008-04010, operating between Anand Vihar and Jogbani, will make five trips during October and up to November 7. Another service, Train No. 04205-04206, will connect Ayodhya Cantt with Delhi to serve passengers travelling between the two cities.
A special train from Bhagalpur to Anand Vihar will also operate during the festive period. The service will cover various stations and run from October 10 to November 26, with a total of 47 trips.
Punjab, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh Routes
Passengers travelling between Punjab and Bihar will also get additional services. Train No. 04610-04609, the Amritsar–Darbhanga Special, will operate between the two destinations while covering several stations along the route.
Train No. 04602-04601, the Firozpur Cantt–Patna Junction Special, will provide a direct connection between Punjab and Patna.
Train No. 04618-04617, running between Amritsar and Saharsa Junction, will cater to passengers travelling towards Saharsa and the Kosi region. Train No. 04508-04507, the Sirhind–Saharsa Junction Special, will provide additional connectivity for passengers under the Ambala Division.
Other services include Train No. 04612-04611 between Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra and Guwahati, along with Train No. 04614-04613 connecting Jammu Tawi and Kolkata.
Rishikesh, Muzaffarpur and Kolkata Special Trains
Railways has also included special services connecting Uttarakhand with Bihar and West Bengal. Train No. 04314-04313, the Rishikesh–Muzaffarpur Weekly Special, will depart from Rishikesh every Sunday.
Train No. 04312-04311, the Rishikesh–Kolkata Special, will provide connectivity between Uttarakhand and the Howrah-Kolkata region.
To manage the expected festive rush, additional general coaches have also been added to the special trains. Passengers can book tickets through designated counters at stations including Anand Vihar, New Delhi, Delhi Junction and Patna Junction.
The fares for some festival special trains may be slightly higher. Passengers can check the latest schedules and ticket availability through the IRCTC website or app and the Railvan app before planning their journey.
Disclaimer
Train timings, routes, stoppages, availability and fares may be subject to change by the Railways. Passengers should check the latest information on the official ticketing and railway platforms before booking their tickets or travelling.