Indian Railways has announced a significant expansion of its services, introducing numerous festival special trains to accommodate the heavy passenger traffic expected during Diwali and Chhath Puja 2026. These additional services are designed to ease travel and ensure convenient access across major routes, particularly those connecting North, East, and South India.
Booking Your Festival Journey
Passengers can secure their tickets through various official channels, including the IRCTC website and mobile application, as well as at railway station reservation counters. For real-time updates on train status, timetables, and seat availability, the NTES app is recommended. For any assistance during travel, the integrated railway helpline number 139 (RailMadad) is available.
Key Special Train Routes and Schedules
The new schedule includes services on high-demand corridors. Here's a breakdown of some of the announced special trains:
Kanpur-Bengaluru Special Train
- Train No. 04131 (Kanpur Central to SMVT Bengaluru): Runs every Sunday from October 4, departing Kanpur Central at 4:30 PM.
- Train No. 04132 (SMVT Bengaluru to Kanpur Central): Runs every Wednesday from October 7, departing SMVT Bengaluru at 7:10 AM.
- Halts: Prayagraj, Satna, Itarsi, Nagpur, Vijayawada, Nellore, Renigunta, Katpadi, Jolarpettai, and Krishnarajapuram.
Varanasi-Delhi Special Express
This reserved special express will complete a total of 50 trips.
- Train No. 04209 (Varanasi to Delhi): Departs Varanasi at 10:15 PM, arriving in Delhi at 1:45 PM the next day. Operates every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from October 2 to November 27.
- Train No. 04210 (Delhi to Varanasi): Departs Delhi at 6:50 PM, arriving in Varanasi at 9:50 AM the next day. Operates every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday from October 2 to November 28.
- Coaches: AC 2-tier, AC 3-tier, sleeper, and general coaches.
Ayodhya-Delhi Special Train
Serving passengers traveling to Ayodhya and the Purvanchal region, this service will make 36 trips.
- Train No. 04213 (Ayodhya Cantt to Anand Vihar Terminal): Departs Ayodhya Cantt at 6:20 PM, arriving at Anand Vihar at 6:10 AM the next day.
- Train No. 04214 (Anand Vihar Terminal to Ayodhya Cantt): Departs Anand Vihar at 9:00 AM, arriving at Ayodhya Cantt at 10:00 PM the same day.
- Availability: Scheduled days between October 1 and November 30.
Chandigarh, Firozpur-Patna Special Trains
These services cater to Bihar residents residing in Punjab and Chandigarh.
- Chandigarh-Patna Special (Train Nos. 04512/04511): 18 trips. Routes via Ambala Cantt, Saharanpur, Roorkee, Moradabad, Bareilly, Shahjahanpur, Varanasi, Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay Junction, Buxar, Ara, and Danapur.
- Firozpur Cantt-Patna Special (Train Nos. 04616/04615): 16 trips. Routes through Moga, Ludhiana, Ambala Cantt, Saharanpur, Moradabad, Varanasi, and Buxar.
These additional train services underscore Indian Railways' commitment to facilitating smooth and comfortable travel for millions of passengers during the crucial festive period.