Are There Special Trains From Kolkata To Bihar For Diwali 2026? Routes & Timings

As of now, India is at the peak of its festive season, with events like Durga Puja, Diwali, and Chhath Puja triggering one of the largest seasonal migrations in Eastern India. Hordes of people, including workers, students, and families, travel from regions in Kolkata, such as Sealdah, Howrah, and Shalimar, to places like Patna, Gaya, Muzaffarpur, Bhagalpur, and Darbhanga in Bihar. In order to accommodate this increase in transit, the Indian Railways (IR) announces special trains. Here are the festive special trains between Kolkata and Bihar for this year.

Festive Special Trains From Kolkata To Bihar Corridor

Around the festive season, the trains operated to accommodate the crowd for Diwali, Chhath, or Pujo all have numbers starting with ‘0’. There are three major originating terminals in Kolkata: Howrah Junction (HWH), Sealdah (SDAH), and Kolkata Terminal (KOAA). The following are the special trains announced for this year between Kolkata and Bihar:

03033/03034: Howrah – Patna – Howrah

Departs HWH at 5:40 PM and arrives at PNBE at 5 AM the next day.

Train departs PNBE at 6:30 AM and arrives at HWH at 10:15 PM the same day.

Major halts on the route include Bandel, Bardhaman, Durgapur, Asansol, Chittaranjan, Jasidih, Jhajha, Kiul, Mokama, and Rajendra Nagar.

03035/03036: Howrah – Patna – Howrah

Train departs HWH at 11:45 PM and arrives at PNBE at 10:45 AM the following day.

Departs PNBE at 1:35 PM and arrives at HWH at 1 AM the next day.

Major stoppages on the route are Bandel, Bardhaman, Asansol, Chittaranjan, Madhupur, Jasidih, Jhajha, Kiul, Mokama, and Patna Sahib.

03039/03040: Howrah – Muzaffarpur – Howrah

Train departs HWH at 5:40 PM and arrives at MFP at 6 AM the next morning.

Departs MFP at 9 AM and arrives at HWH at 11:55 PM the same day.

Major stations on the route include Bandel, Bardhaman, Asansol, Madhupur, Jasidih, Jhajha, Kiul, Barauni, and Samastipur.

03145/03146: Sealdah – Jaynagar – Sealdah

The train departs from SDAH at 5 PM and arrives at JYG at 8:30 AM the next morning.

Departure from JYG at 10 AM, and arrival in SDAH at 1:30 AM the next day.

Main halts on this route are Naihati, Bandel, Bardhaman, Asansol, Jasidih, Kiul, Barauni, Samastipur, Darbhanga, and Madhubani.

03137/03138: Sealdah – Jaynagar Special (Chhath Peak)

Departs SDAH on Nov 13 at 4:40 PM and arrives at JYG on Nov 14 at 7 AM.

Train departs JYG on Nov 14 at 10 AM and arrives at SDAH on Nov 15 at 1:30 AM.

Main halts on this route include Bardhaman, Asansol, Jasidih, Jhajha, Kiul, Barauni, Samastipur, Darbhanga, and Madhubani.

03043/03044: Howrah – Raxaul Special

Operates on Saturdays from HWH and on Sundays from RXL. It is an overnight service with stoppages at Bandel, Bardhaman, Asansol, Jasidih, Barauni, Samastipur, and Sitamarhi.

Also Read: Cyclone Arnab Alert: Air India, IndiGo, Akasa Flights Cancelled Across Andhra Pradesh

How To Book And Secure Tickets for Diwali Special Trains 2026

Step 1: Track Eastern Railway Official Announcements

Notifications are released via press releases and IRCTC, so make sure you keep an eye on official Eastern Railway press releases, the official IRCTC portal, and Indian Railways social media handles for the formal announcement of special train numbers such as 03033 and 03145.

Step 2: Understand Special Fare Classes

Keep in mind that dynamic pricing applies to certain special trains, and festival trains often run under the "Special Fare" (TOD - Train On Demand) category. Fares for AC and Sleeper classes on these trains are generally slightly higher than standard mail/express fares.

Step 3: Utilize IRCTC Online And PRS Counters

The counters generally open at 8 AM for General. As soon as the special train inventory is updated on IRCTC, book tickets immediately. The Tatkal quota tickets open one day prior to the departure date. 10 AM is the time for AC classes and 11 AM for Non-AC Sleeper.

Step 4: Consider Unreserved (General) Festival Specials

For those last-minute travelers without confirmed seats, Eastern Railway operates unreserved festival special trains such as 03033/03035. You can purchase unreserved tickets via the UTS Mobile App or physical booking counters at Howrah/Sealdah before departure.

Also Read: Indian Railways: Watching Reels Loudly In Trains Can Now Get You Fined, Or Even Jailed!

Summing Up

The festive months in India are some of the busiest for Indian railways. The demand is very high as people travel to and from their hometowns for the festivities. The festive and special trains play an important part in alleviating the pressure and meeting the surge in demand for train routes.