Due to the growing demand for tickets for trips home during the Diwali and Chhath festivals, there is intense competition for railway seats. When ticket sales opened for many routes, seats were quickly sold out, and regular trains show a status of 'Disappointment' or very long waiting lists.
In such conditions, special trains organized by the railway offer passengers an alternative option. The railway plans to launch over 1000 special services, considering the expected influx of people during Diwali and Chhath.
Diwali falls on November 8th, and Chhath will take place from November 13th to 16th. To cope with the increased passenger flow during the holidays, the launch of over a thousand special train services has been announced. These services will operate for 61 days, from October 1st to November 30th, across various railway zones on high-passenger-density routes. The railway's goal is to provide an additional choice for passengers who cannot secure a confirmed ticket on regular trains for their holiday travel home.
According to railway data, 43 pairs of trains and 1053 services are planned to operate across different railway zones. Some trains will run a limited number of times throughout the period, while others will run once or twice a week. These special trains will connect major cities such as Kolkata, Prayagraj, Kanpur Central, New Delhi, and Palwal. Additionally, stations like Anand Vihar Terminal, Virangana Lakshmi Bai Jhansi, Hazrat Nizamuddin, Ghaziabad, and Dadri are included in this network. The list for passengers also includes routes such as Pune, Hadapsar, Hajuraho, Tiruchanur, and Agra Cantonment.
The Western Railway is organizing 13 pairs of special trains, and the Northern Railway is organizing 10 pairs. Regarding the Northern Railway, train number 02417 will run daily between Prayagraj Junction and Shakurbasti stations in Delhi from October 1st to 14th. Then, from October 15th to December 14th, it will run on Mondays, Sundays, Thursdays, and Fridays. The return train 02418 will be launched on various dates during this period. Between Kanpur Central and New Delhi, trains 02455 and 02456 will run from October 2nd to November 30th on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. Also, trains 01941 and 01942 between Agra Cantt and Palwal will run daily from October 1st to October 31st.
The Eastern Railway's list includes trains 01911 and 01912 between Agra Cantt and Kolkata. Nine services are planned for 01911 and 01912. Between Kanpur Central and Kolkata, trains 04157 and 04158 are provided, with 8 services in each direction. Between Virangana Lakshmi Bai Jhansi and Asansol, trains 04185 and 04186 will run twice a week, with 16 services in each direction.
The Southern Railway's list includes 8 services on the Kanpur Central – Madurai route with train 01925 and 2 services on the Prayagraj Junction – Kanyakumari route with train 04171. The South Western Railway includes special trains between Prayagraj Junction and Hubli, Kanpur Central and Ser M. Visvesvaraya Bengaluru Terminal, Subedarganj and Yashantpur, as well as between Prayagraj Junction and Yashantpur. The North East Frontier Railway has set 9 services in each direction for trains 04127 and 04128 between Kanpur Central and Guwahati.
According to railway representatives, continuous monitoring of passenger requests and waiting lists is being conducted. The possibility of launching additional special trains will be considered if necessary, based on ticket booking data and demand across various platforms. Commercial and RPF personnel are being additionally deployed to ensure order at stations. Sanitary conditions are also receiving special attention.
If you are preparing for a trip home for Diwali or Chhath but cannot find a ticket on a regular train, looking for a seat on these special trains may be an option. This is especially relevant for passengers whose routes show 'Disappointment' or very long queues on regular trains. Passengers are advised to check the updated list and schedule of the special train for the respective railway zone before purchasing a ticket.
