As millions of passengers travel to Bihar annually for the festivals of Diwali and Chhath, demand for railway tickets sharply increases before the festivals. However, this time, immediately after ticket sales opened, passengers encountered several problems.
Many travelers reported difficulties through the IRCTC application and website. Upon opening the booking window, messages such as 'High System Load,' 'Error,' and 'Regret' were displayed.
Passengers expressed dissatisfaction on the social network X, addressing a query to Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. One user noted that people usually access the IRCTC app two months before Diwali and Chhath, but during booking, the application freezes, showing the message 'Regret.'
Another user complained that shortly after ticket sales began, the message 'REGRET' appeared. Another passenger recounted trying to book a ticket to Bihar for Diwali and Chhath starting at 8 AM, but the system continuously displayed 'Error' and 'High System Load,' preventing the purchase.
One passenger questioned how ordinary people could reach home for the festival if the 'REGRET' message appeared just minutes after sales started. He emphasized that trains are essential for people during holidays, and the booking system should facilitate passenger convenience.
Yet another user stated that they tried to book a ticket to Bihar for Chhath in the morning, and the website remained overloaded until approximately 8:12 AM, after which it operated unstably. By the time the system became functional, the desired tickets were no longer available.
On September 13th, around 8 AM, when checking train availability in Bihar for November 12th on the IRCTC app, the message 'Regret' was displayed in most sections. In some trains, waiting lists in certain classes exceeded 100 and 200. According to Indian Railways' Advance Reservation Period (ARP) rules, tickets for regular trains can be booked up to 60 days before the travel date, excluding the travel date itself. Ticket sales begin at 8 AM. In accordance with this rule, booking for travel on November 12, 2026, opened on September 13 at 8 AM.
Given the large number of passengers, the railway decided to launch a series of special trains to Bihar. These trains will operate on various routes from September 16 to November 30. Passengers traveling from Delhi and Anand Vihar to Bihar will also have many options among these trains. These include weekly, bi-weekly, and daily services. Thanks to these trains, more than 10 major cities in the country will be connected to various stations in Bihar.
Here is the list of special trains:
- Delhi – Sitamarhi: every Thursday, from October 15 to November 19. The return journey from Sitamarhi to Delhi will run every Saturday, from October 17 to November 21.
- Rishikesh – Muzaffarpur: every Sunday, from October 4 to November 29. The return journey from Muzaffarpur to Rishikesh will run every Monday, from October 5 to November 30.
- Chandigarh – Patna: every Thursday, from October 1 to November 26. The return journey from Patna to Chandigarh will run every Friday, from October 2 to November 27.
- Firozpur Cantt – Patna: every Tuesday, from October 6 to November 24. The return journey from Patna to Firozpur Cantt will run every Wednesday, from October 7 to November 25.
- Anand Vihar – Jogbani: every Saturday, from October 10 to November 7. The return journey from Jogbani to Anand Vihar will run every Sunday, from October 11 to November 8.
- Anand Vihar – Muzaffarpur: every Tuesday and Friday, from October 13 to November 24. The return journey from Muzaffarpur to Anand Vihar will run every Wednesday and Saturday, from October 14 to November 25.
- Anand Vihar – Patliputra: daily, from October 1 to November 29. The return journey from Patliputra to Anand Vihar will run daily, from October 2 to November 30.
- Anand Vihar – Laukh Bazar: from September 16 to November 29. The return journey from Laukh Bazar to Anand Vihar will run from September 17 to November 30.
The North Eastern Railway has also announced special trains for the festive season. Due to this, an increase in the number of additional trains is expected not only in Bihar but also on other routes in the coming days.
