Indian Railways Adds 100+ Festival Special Trains for Durga Puja Diwali and Chhath 2026 to Ease Passenger Rush

India’s Indian Railways has released 100 or more trains in the form of special trains for the year 2026 for the festival season, which shall help to cater to the increased rush during the festive period such as Durga Puja, Diwali and Chhath. These extra trains would run between September and December of 2026 over a number of important routes.

These special trains for the year 2026 consist of 102 services after counting UP and DOWN services separately. They have been planned in order to increase the capacity of the railways by reducing waiting list and increasing the berth availability.

These special trains would cover the major passenger traffic zones such as those of Bihar, West Bengal, Assam, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. They would help to provide extra facilities to the travelers in reaching their destination during festive time.

In addition to special trains, some extra coaches have been attached to selected normal trains to cater to the increased requirement of the passengers during this season.

For many millions of travelers, this announcement would be of significance as the travel during festive season in India generates high requirements for confirmed tickets.

Why This Matters for Travellers

The Indian Railways festival special trains 2026 announcement directly addresses one of the biggest challenges during India’s festive season — securing confirmed train tickets.

During Durga Puja, Diwali and Chhath, millions of people travel from cities to their hometowns. Routes towards Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and other regions often experience heavy demand as families plan celebrations together.

The additional trains provide passengers with more opportunities to find available seats and reduce dependence on already crowded regular services.

How the festival trains will help passengers

The additional services are especially important for migrant workers, students, families and tourists travelling across states during the festive period.

What Has Changed With Indian Railways Festival Train Plan 2026

Indian Railways has introduced a large network of temporary services across multiple railway zones to handle seasonal passenger movement.

These trains will operate during different periods depending on the route, with many services beginning in September or October and continuing until November or December 2026.

Overview of the 2026 festival special train programme

The programme includes additional trains, extended services and capacity enhancements across different zones.

Major Festival Special Train Routes and Operating Periods

The announced services cover some of India’s busiest festive travel corridors.

Important routes announced under the programme

These routes are expected to support passengers travelling between industrial cities, state capitals and major festival destinations.

Eastern India Gets Additional Support During Durga Puja and Chhath Travel

Eastern and northeastern routes traditionally experience heavy passenger movement during the festive season.

Indian Railways has announced services connecting West Bengal, Bihar, Assam and other eastern regions to improve travel availability.

Key eastern corridor services include:

These services are expected to support passengers travelling for Durga Puja celebrations, Diwali gatherings and Chhath-related journeys.

Additional Trains Connect Southern and Northeastern Regions

The festival programme also includes routes connecting southern and northeastern parts of India.

Long-distance festival connections include:

These services provide additional travel opportunities across long-distance routes during the holiday period.

IRCTC Upgrades Ticket Booking System Ahead of Festival Rush

Alongside additional trains, Indian Railways has strengthened its digital ticket booking infrastructure through improvements to the IRCTC platform.

Festival periods usually create significant pressure on online reservation systems due to millions of passengers attempting to book tickets at the same time.

IRCTC booking improvements include:

IRCTC has increased the capacity of its Next Generation e-Ticketing (NGeT) system through hardware and software improvements.

The organisation also introduced a redesigned booking interface where passengers can view seat availability across different classes, including Sleeper, AC 3 Tier and AC 2 Tier, on a single screen.

What Travellers Should Know Before Booking

Passengers planning festive journeys should prepare early because special trains operate for limited periods.

Before Booking

• Check train availability on IRCTC and official railway platforms.
• Confirm the exact operating dates.
• Check whether the service is UP or DOWN direction.
• Review coach composition before booking.
• Carry valid identification during travel.
• Reconfirm schedules before departure.

Travellers should remember that festival special trains are temporary services and may have different schedules from regular trains.

Industry Impact of Festival Special Trains

The expansion of festival rail services highlights the importance of flexible railway planning during seasonal travel peaks.

Indian Railways plays a central role in domestic mobility, especially when millions of passengers travel within a short period.

Wider benefits include:

• Better passenger movement during festivals.
• Reduced pressure on regular services.
• Improved regional connectivity.
• Support for family and cultural travel.
• Stronger domestic tourism movement.

The festival train programme also supports India’s tourism ecosystem by helping travellers reach cultural events, religious destinations and family gatherings.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many festival special trains has Indian Railways announced for 2026?

Indian Railways has announced more than 100 special trains, with 102 services listed when UP and DOWN operations are counted separately.

Which festivals are covered by these trains?

The special services are designed for Durga Puja, Diwali and Chhath travel demand.

When will these trains operate?

Different routes have different schedules, with services operating mainly between September and December 2026.

Can passengers book tickets online?

Yes. Tickets can be booked through IRCTC and railway booking platforms. IRCTC has upgraded its booking system ahead of festive demand.

Are regular trains also getting more capacity?

Yes. Indian Railways has added extra coaches to selected regular trains to accommodate more passengers.

Closing Update

The Indian Railways’ 2026 festival special train plan offers further assistance to passengers when the country is celebrating a very busy festival period.

As there will be more than 100 special trains that serve important routes and extra seats provided to some specific trains, people will have extra choices for Durga Puja, Diwali and Chhath trips.

Travelers who plan to take their festivity trips need to ensure timely booking and regular check-ups regarding train routes.

The post Indian Railways Adds 100+ Festival Special Trains for Durga Puja Diwali and Chhath 2026 to Ease Passenger Rush appeared first on Travel and Tour World