Train travel becomes considerably busier in the weeks around Dussehra, Diwali and Chhath, particularly on routes connecting major cities with Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal. To meet the increased passenger demand, Indian Railways has announced more than 100 Diwali special trains for 2026, along with additional trips and extra coaches on several existing services. The festive arrangements cover routes across northern, eastern, western, northeastern and southern India, with different services scheduled to operate between September and December.
What Has Indian Railways Announced For The 2026 Festive Season?
The Indian Railways special trains will connect destinations across Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Assam, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and southern India. Services will run for different periods, from a few trips to several weeks. Apart from introducing special services, the Railways is extending selected trains, adding extra trips and increasing coach capacity on certain routes. These measures are intended to provide more seats during the busiest part of the festive travel season.
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Which Routes Will Get Special Trains For Diwali 2026?
Several Diwali train routes will connect Uttar Pradesh with Maharashtra and Gujarat, including Kanpur Central-Asarva, Agra Cantt-Udhna, Asarva-Agra Cantt, Jhansi-Bandra Terminus, Prayagraj-Udhna, Subedarganj-Valsad, Prayagraj-Dadar, Subedarganj-Udhna, Subedarganj-Indore, Prayagraj-Veraval and Subedarganj-Panvel.
Services will also cater to passengers traveling towards Bihar and West Bengal during Diwali and Chhath, including Howrah-Raxaul, Sealdah-Patna, Sealdah-Sitamarhi, Sealdah-Gorakhpur, Kolkata-Madhubani, Asansol-Patna, Madar Junction-Patna Junction and Anand Vihar Terminal-Jogbani. These Chhath special trains add options on routes with substantial festival demand. For the Northeast, services include Howrah-Lumding, Kolkata-New Jalpaiguri, Santragachi-Naharlagun and Kanpur Central-Guwahati. The Dibrugarh-Kolkata service will also receive 13 additional trips.
Additional services in southern India include Visakhapatnam-SMVT Bengaluru, Shalimar-Charlapalli, Secunderabad-Sirpur Kaghaznagar, Hyderabad-Mangaluru Central, Kanpur Central-SMVT Bengaluru, Sambalpur-Podanur and Kanpur Central-Madurai. More services are also planned between Mumbai Central and Katihar.
Which Existing Trains Will Get Extra Trips And Coaches?
The festive arrangements are not limited to special trains. The Bhagalpur-Katihar service has been extended for daily operations until November 30, while the Dibrugarh-Kolkata service will receive 13 additional trips and operate with 22 coaches. Capacity is also being increased on other services. The Podanur-Dr MGR Chennai Central train will receive an additional AC Chair Car and Chair Car in both directions, while the Subedarganj-Panvel service is planned with 22 LHB coaches.
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What Should Passengers Know Before Booking?
Operating dates, weekly frequency and the number of trips differ across these services. Passengers should check the schedule for their train before booking rather than assuming every special service operates daily. Those planning journeys around Dussehra, Diwali or Chhath should check seat availability early, especially on high-demand routes towards Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.
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Summing Up
With more than 100 special services, additional trips, and increased coach capacity, Indian Railways is providing more travel options for passengers during the 2026 festive season. The additional connectivity covers high-demand routes across Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Assam, and southern India, making it easier for passengers traveling home for Diwali, Dussehra, and Chhath.
However, the operating dates, frequency, and number of trips vary by service. Passengers planning festive travel should check the latest train schedule, availability, and booking details before finalizing their journey. Book early, particularly on routes that typically experience heavy demand during the festive period.
