Diwali-Chhath Special Trains: Indian Railways has announced several special train services to manage the expected increase in passenger demand during the Diwali and Chhath Puja festive season. The additional services will connect major cities across north, east and south India, with operations planned through October and November.
The special trains are intended to provide additional travel options on busy routes during the festive period.
Kanpur-Bengaluru Special Train
Train No. 04131 Kanpur Central–SMVT Bengaluru Special will operate every Sunday from October 4. The train will depart from Kanpur Central at 4:30 pm.
Its return service, Train No. 04132 SMVT Bengaluru–Kanpur Central Special, will run every Wednesday from October 7 and leave Bengaluru at 7:10 am.
The train will stop at several major stations, including Prayagraj, Satna, Itarsi, Nagpur, Vijayawada, Nellore, Renigunta, Katpadi, Jolarpettai and Krishnarajapuram.
Varanasi-Delhi Special to Make 50 Trips
Railways has also announced the 04209/04210 Varanasi–Delhi Reserved Special Express, which will make 50 trips during the festive season.
Train No. 04209 will leave Varanasi at 10:15 pm and reach Delhi at 1:45 pm the following day. It will operate on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from October 2 to November 27.
The return service, Train No. 04210, will depart Delhi at 6:50 pm and reach Varanasi at 9:50 am the next day. This service will operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from October 2 to November 28.
The train will include AC 2-tier, AC 3-tier, sleeper and general coaches.
Ayodhya-Delhi and Punjab-Patna Specials
Passengers travelling between Ayodhya and Delhi will also get additional services. Train Nos. 04213/04214 Ayodhya Cantt–Anand Vihar Terminal Special will operate for 36 trips between October 1 and November 30.
The Ayodhya Cantt–Anand Vihar service will depart at 6:20 pm and reach Anand Vihar at 6:10 am the following day. The return train will leave Anand Vihar at 9:00 am and arrive at Ayodhya Cantt at 10:00 pm.
Railways has also planned additional services connecting Punjab and Chandigarh with Patna.
The Chandigarh–Patna Special (04512/04511) will make 18 trips and cover stations such as Ambala Cantt, Saharanpur, Roorkee, Moradabad, Bareilly, Shahjahanpur, Varanasi, Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay Junction, Buxar, Ara and Danapur.
The Firozpur Cantt–Patna Special (04616/04615) will make 16 trips, with scheduled stops including Moga, Ludhiana, Ambala Cantt, Saharanpur, Moradabad, Varanasi and Buxar.
How to Book Tickets for Special Trains
Passengers can reserve seats on these services through the IRCTC website and mobile app, as well as at railway reservation counters.
For information on train schedules, running status and seat availability, passengers can use NTES. Railway assistance is also available through the integrated 139 RailMadad helpline.
With passenger demand expected to increase during Diwali and Chhath Puja, these additional train services are aimed at providing more travel options on some of the busiest routes during the festive season.
Disclaimer: This article is intended for general informational purposes and is based on the details provided in the source material. Train schedules, routes, stoppages, timings and availability may be changed by Indian Railways. Passengers should verify the latest information through official railway channels before planning their journey.