Northern Railway has planned more than 6,200 special train trips for the festive season to manage the rush of passengers travelling home for Diwali and Chhath Puja. The number of trips has increased by around 30% compared with last year, when 4,666 trips were operated, according to a TOI report. The additional services are intended to ease the pressure on regular trains, particularly on routes connecting Delhi and other northern cities with destinations in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal. Passengers travelling during the festive period often struggle to secure confirmed tickets as demand rises sharply.
Northern Railway special trains: Over 6,200 trips planned
Northern Railway has announced around 3,600 special train trips so far, with the total planned for the festive season set to exceed 6,200, according to the TOI report. The railway zone has also regularised 42 new trains this year. Together, these services will account for around 2,600 trips during the festive period, adding to the arrangements made to accommodate the seasonal rush.
The chief public relations officer of Northern Railway, Himanshu Shekhar Upadhyay, said arrangements were being made to help passengers travel home for the festivals without facing unnecessary difficulties.
The increase in services comes as confirmed seats on popular routes are often difficult to obtain, with special train tickets also filling up quickly after announcements.
Diwali and Chhath special trains: Which routes will benefit?
Northern Railway operates additional services on routes connecting the national capital and other northern cities with major destinations in eastern India. These routes see heavy passenger demand around Diwali and Chhath Puja, when many people travel to their hometowns to celebrate with family.
According to the TOI report, the special train services include routes such as:
- Delhi–Patna Vande Bharat
- Shakurbasti–Darbhanga
- Mata Vaishno Devi–Varanasi
- Chandigarh–Patna
- New Delhi–Howrah
- Amritsar–Barauni
The additional services are expected to provide more travel options on busy corridors, although seat availability will vary by train, date and destination.
Northern Railway strengthens station security and passenger facilities
Alongside the increase in train services, Northern Railway has stepped up arrangements at stations to manage the higher footfall during the festive season.
Extra ticket counters have been opened, and additional staff have been deployed to help passengers. Security arrangements have also been strengthened to manage crowds and improve passenger movement at busy stations.
The measures are aimed at reducing congestion and helping passengers navigate stations during one of the busiest travel periods of the year.
Why are special trains important during the festive season?
Diwali and Chhath Puja trigger a sharp increase in rail travel, particularly among passengers heading from major cities to towns and villages in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and neighbouring states.
Regular trains often see heavy demand well before the festivals, leaving many passengers looking for alternative services. Special trains add capacity on selected routes, while the regularisation of new trains can provide additional options beyond the immediate festive rush.
Inputs from TOI