Passengers preparing for trips home for festivals such as Durga Puja, Diwali, and Chhath are facing difficulties due to the lack of tickets on regular trains, as they sell out quickly and waiting lists become very long. In this regard, the railway has taken significant measures to assist travelers.
Indian Railways has announced the launch of over 100 special trains between October and December 2026. These trains connect many states, including Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Assam, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh. Additionally, extra coaches and services will be added on some regular routes.
The railway has published a list of 102 special trains that will operate from October to December 2026. This list separately accounts for 'up' (from the originating station) and 'down' (return journey) services. The list includes both new special routes and an increase in the number of services on existing trains, as well as the addition of extra coaches in response to growing passenger demand.
The series of trains 01905 (Kanpur Central-Asarwa) will run 9 services from October 5 to November 30, and 01906 (Asarwa-Kanpur Central) will run 9 services from October 6 to December 1. Also planned are 8 services on route 01907 (Agra Kant-Udhana) from October 6 to November 24, and 8 services on route 01908 (Udhana-Agra Kant) from October 7 to November 25. Routes 01909 (Asarwa-Agra Kant) and 01910 (Agra Kant-Asarwa) will operate 8 services from October 6 to November 24 and October 5 to November 23, respectively.
Furthermore, 9 services will run on route 02199 (Virangana Laxmibai Jhansi-Bandra Terminus) from October 1 to November 26, and 02200 (Bandra Terminus-Virangana Laxmibai Jhansi) will run 9 services from October 3 to November 28.
Route 04105 (Prayagraj-Udhana) is scheduled for 18 services from October 1 to November 29, and 04106 (Udhana-Prayagraj) for 18 services from October 2 to November 30; both trains will run twice a week. Train 04179 (Prayagraj-Sabarmati) will run 17 services from October 3 to November 28, and 04180 (Sabarmati-Prayagraj) for 17 services from October 4 to November 29. These services will replace 04111 and 04112 (Prayagraj-Gandigram-Prayagraj).
Additionally, routes 04119 (Subhedarganj-Valsad) and 04120 (Valsad-Subhedarganj) have been introduced for October 3 to 4 and November 28-29 (with 9 services in each direction). Trains 04139 (Prayagraj-Dadar) and 04140 (Dadar-Prayagraj) will run 9 services in each direction during October-November. Routes 04155 (Subhedarganj-Udhana) and 04156 (Udhana-Subhedarganj) will run twice a week with 12 services in each direction from October 19 to November 26 and October 20 to November 27.
Extra services are also provided for routes 04175 (Subhedarganj-Dadar) and 04176 (Dadar-Subhedarganj) (8 services in each direction), as well as 04177 (Subhedarganj-Valsad) and 04178 (Valsad-Subhedarganj) (8 services in each direction).
Trains 04169 (Subhedarganj-Indore) and 04170 (Indore-Subhedarganj) will run twice a week with 17 services in each direction. Routes 04173 (Prayagraj-Veraval) and 04174 (Veraval-Prayagraj) will operate 9 services in each direction.
Trains 04103 (Subhedarganj-Panvel) and 04104 (Panvel-Subhedarganj) will have 5 additional services between October 21 and November 18-19, and these trains will feature 22 LHB coaches. Trains 02877 (Rachi-Anand Vihar) and 02878 (Anand Vihar-Rachi) will have 9 additional services in each direction from October 3 to 4 and November 28-29. The number of services on routes 04157 (Kanpur Central-Kolkata) and 04158 (Kolkata-Kanpur Central) will also be increased—by 8 services in each direction from October 6-7 to November 24-25.
Routes 01911 (Agra Kant-Kolkata) and 01912 (Kolkata-Agra Kant) will operate 9 services in each direction from October 1-2 to November 26-27. Trains 04185 (Virangana Laxmibai Jhansi-Asansol) and 04186 (Asansol-Virangana Laxmibai Jhansi) will run 16 services in each direction from October 7-8 to November 29-30. Additional services are also provided for 05183 (Azamgarh-Bandra Terminus) and 05184 (Bandra Terminus-Azamgarh)—9 services in each direction from October 3-5 to November 28-30.
Trains 09601 (Madar Junction-Patna Junction) and 09602 (Patna Junction-Madar Junction) will have 9 additional services in each direction from October 1-2 to November 26-27. Furthermore, the departure time of train 09601 at Tundla Junction station has been changed from 14:45 to 14:50 starting October 1. Passengers will also benefit from additional convenience on the Prayagraj-Shakur Basti route: trains 02417 (Prayagraj-Shakur Basti) and 02418 (Shakur Basti-Prayagraj) will run daily for 34 services from September 11 to October 14-15, and then four days a week from October to December.
In addition, trains 04163 (Narainpur Bazar-Shakur Basti) and 04164 (Shakur Basti-Narainpur Bazar) will run three days a week with 27 services in each direction during October to December.
For those traveling to Bihar and Bengal, special trains 03041 (Haudra-Raxaul) and 03042 (Raxaul-Haudra) are available—7 services in each direction from October 15-16 to November 26-27, as well as 03043 (Haudra-Raxaul) and 03044 (Raxaul-Haudra)—7 services in each direction from October 17-18 to November 28-29.
Also introduced are trains 03135 (Sialdaha-Patna) and 03136 (Patna-Sialdaha)—7 services in each direction from October 13 to November 24. Routes 03133 (Sialdaha-Sitamarhi) and 03134 (Sitamarhi-Sialdaha) will operate 7 services in each direction from October 16-17 to November 27-28. Finally, trains 03131 (Sialdaha-Gorakhpur) and 03132 (Gorakhpur-Sialdaha) will run 14 services in each direction from October 13-14 to November 26-27.