With Diwali and Chhath Puja approaching, Indian Railways has announced additional Festival Special Trains for 2026 to manage the expected increase in passenger traffic. Northern Railway, in coordination with other railway zones, is introducing extra services on several busy routes to make festive travel more convenient.
These special trains will connect major cities across northern, eastern and other parts of the country. The services will operate on different schedules, with some running daily and others on selected days of the week or specific dates. Several trains will continue operating through November, while some services will remain available until December 2026.
Indian Railways Special Trains 2026: Routes Covered
The railway authorities have announced special services connecting several important destinations, including New Delhi, Patna, Chandigarh, Firozpur Cantt, Anand Vihar Terminal, Jogbani, Muzaffarpur, Lucknow, Rishikesh, Supaul, Howrah, Kolkata, Amritsar, Jaynagar, Barauni, Darbhanga, Varanasi, Ayodhya, Jammu Tawi, Katihar, Ludhiana and Saharsa.
The additional trains will provide more travel options for passengers heading towards Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Punjab and other destinations during the festive season.
Services will operate at different frequencies, including weekly, twice-weekly, three-times-weekly and daily schedules. Some trains will also run only on specified dates to accommodate passenger demand.
Important Special Trains Between Delhi, Bihar and West Bengal
Several special trains have been arranged on routes connecting Delhi with major destinations in eastern India.
The New Delhi–Patna and Patna–New Delhi Festival Special trains will operate multiple times a week. Additional services will also connect Delhi with Danapur, Gaya, Darbhanga, Kamakhya and other destinations.
For passengers travelling to West Bengal, special services have been announced on the New Delhi–Howrah, Rishikesh–Kolkata and Amritsar–Kolkata routes.
Train number 04052 will leave New Delhi at 6:15 PM and arrive at Howrah at 11:40 PM the following day. It will operate three days a week until November 29, 2026. Its return service, train number 04051, will depart Howrah at 1:40 AM and reach New Delhi at 8:20 AM the next day.
Another service, train number 04312, will operate between Rishikesh and Kolkata. It will depart Yog Nagari Rishikesh at 10:20 PM and reach Kolkata at 8:00 AM on Friday. The return train, number 04311, will leave Kolkata at 1:55 PM on Sunday.
The Amritsar–Kolkata Festival Special will operate on Wednesdays, while its return service will run on Saturdays.
More Festival Special Trains on Other Routes
Apart from the major Delhi and Kolkata routes, Railways has announced additional services connecting several other destinations.
These include Amritsar–Barauni, Chandigarh–Patna, Anand Vihar Terminal–Jogbani, Delhi–Sitamarhi, Anand Vihar Terminal–Bhagalpur, New Delhi–Danapur, Shakur Basti–Darbhanga, Delhi–Gaya, Firozpur Cantt–Purnea and Amritsar–Jaynagar.
The timetable also includes date-specific services between Shakur Basti and Mansi, Mansi and Shakur Basti, Shakur Basti and Jhanjharpur, and Jhanjharpur and Shakur Basti.
The operating frequency and dates differ from one route to another. While some trains will run daily, others will operate on selected weekdays or specific dates. Several services are scheduled to continue until November 30, 2026, with a few extending into December.
How to Check Festival Special Train Timings?
Passengers planning to travel during Diwali and Chhath Puja should check the latest train timetable before booking their tickets.
Details such as departure and arrival times, operating dates and stoppages can be checked through the official Indian Railways enquiry website:
Passengers are advised to verify the schedule of their selected train before beginning their journey, as special services may operate only on specific dates.
Disclaimer: This article is intended for general informational purposes only. Festival Special Train schedules, routes, timings and operating dates are subject to change by Indian Railways. Passengers should verify the latest information through official railway announcements or the Indian Railways enquiry portal before booking tickets or travelling. This website is not affiliated with Indian Railways and does not guarantee the availability of seats or train services.