Festival Special Train: During the festive season of 2026, Indian Railways is planning to run 340,000 regular train trips from October 1 to November 30, an increase from 330,000 trips the previous year. By October 13, 8,454 special train trips had been scheduled to cater to the increased demand during Durga Puja, Diwali, and Chhath.

Railways Announced More Festival Special Trains

The Ministry of Railways states that the regular train schedule forms the foundation of festive travel plans, with over 16,000 extra regular service trips planned compared to last year. This encompasses the normalization of special trains and the introduction of new services. For the festive period, more than 37,000 regular service trips are slated for Uttar Pradesh, over 31,000 for Bihar, and more than 27,000 for West Bengal.

Additionally, special train services are being arranged to West Bengal and nearby eastern destinations to handle the rush during Durga Puja, with operations set to commence between October 13 and 20, 2026, offering increased travel alternatives. The planned services will link key destinations in West Bengal like Howrah, Kolkata, Sealdah, Santragachi, Shalimar, Malda Town, and Asansol, as well as New Jalpaiguri and other locations in the eastern region.

Check the List

From the Northern Railway region, 27 special trains are planned, along with 14 from the Southern region and eight from the Western region to West Bengal. Bihar leads in the number of special train trips planned with 2,057, followed by Uttar Pradesh with 1,056, Delhi with 975, Maharashtra with 836, and West Bengal with 464.

“>October 15, 2026

Special trains are being organized to supplement regular services on specific routes and dates to accommodate increased demand during festive times. The Railways may introduce more services based on passenger needs and operational necessities. To enhance seating capacity on existing trains, Indian Railways has added 412 extra coaches compared to the previous year, including 75 General Class coaches.