Northern Railway Launches Festival Special Trains to Ease Dussehra, Diwali and Chhath Puja Travel Rush

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Northern Railway has launched a number of special trains to provide transport connectivity to different religious destinations during the festive season. Many special trains have also been announced to manage the rush for Dussehra and Diwali. Besides, other extra trains have been planned to connect Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra, Jammu Tawi and Varanasi to manage the rush for Chhath Puja.

The festival period is one of the busiest times for India’s railway network, with millions of passengers travelling across states to celebrate with families, visit religious sites and return to their hometowns. To meet this seasonal increase, Northern Railway’s Jammu division has introduced additional train operations aimed at easing congestion on regular routes and providing more confirmed ticket availability.

The special services will operate on important corridors connecting Jammu and Kashmir, Delhi, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh, creating stronger links between major pilgrimage centres and high-demand travel destinations.

New Festival Train Services Strengthen Connectivity Between Jammu, Varanasi and Delhi

The additional trains will provide passengers with more flexibility during the peak festive travel period. The services include the Katra–Varanasi–Katra Special, Jammu Tawi–Varanasi–Jammu Tawi Special and New Delhi–Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra Festival Special.

These trains have been scheduled during October and November to support travel demand around Dussehra, Diwali and Chhath Puja celebrations. The railway network expects significant passenger movement during these months as travellers plan religious visits, family gatherings and holiday journeys.

By introducing reserved festival special trains, Northern Railway aims to reduce pressure on existing services and improve the overall travel experience for passengers. The additional capacity will also help address waiting lists on popular routes during the holiday season.

Katra–Varanasi Special Train Offers Direct Route for Pilgrims and Festival Travellers

The 04604/04603 Katra–Varanasi–Katra Festival Special will operate nine trips in both directions, connecting two of North India’s most significant religious destinations.

The train departing from Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra will run every Sunday from October 4 until November 29, leaving at 6:15 PM. The return journey from Varanasi will operate every Tuesday from October 6 to December 1, departing at 4:30 AM.

The service will pass through several important railway stations, including Jammu Tawi, Pathankot Cantt, Jalandhar Cantt, Ludhiana, Ambala Cantt, Saharanpur, Moradabad, Bareilly, Alamnagar, Rae Bareli and Pratapgarh.

The route will provide improved travel access for passengers from multiple regions while supporting increased movement towards Varanasi and the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine during the festive months.

Jammu Tawi–Varanasi Service Adds More Travel Capacity During Peak Season

Another important addition is the 04610/04609 Jammu Tawi–Varanasi–Jammu Tawi Festival Special, which will also complete nine trips in each direction.

The train from Jammu Tawi will operate every Thursday between October 1 and November 26. The return service from Varanasi will run every Friday from October 2 to November 27.

The service will benefit passengers travelling through major stations such as Pathankot, Jalandhar, Ambala, Saharanpur, Moradabad, Shahjahanpur, Lucknow and Sultanpur.

The additional connectivity is expected to support passengers travelling towards eastern Uttar Pradesh during Diwali and Chhath Puja, when demand for long-distance rail journeys rises significantly.

The train will provide another option for passengers seeking comfortable and reserved travel during a period when regular railway services often experience heavy bookings.

New Delhi–Katra Festival Train Supports Increased Dussehra Travel Demand

To support Dussehra travel requirements, Northern Railway will also operate the 04081/04082 New Delhi–Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra Festival Special.

The train will complete four trips in each direction. The New Delhi to Katra service will operate on October 8, 9, 10 and 11, while the return train from Katra will run on October 9, 10, 11 and 12.

This service will provide direct rail connectivity between the national capital and the popular pilgrimage destination of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra.

The additional train will benefit passengers from Delhi, Haryana and Punjab, offering greater convenience for those planning religious journeys during the Dussehra holiday period.

Railway Network Prepares for One of India’s Busiest Travel Seasons

Festival travel in India creates exceptional demand for railway services, particularly on routes connecting major cities, religious centres and northern states. During this period, passengers often face limited seat availability due to a sharp increase in bookings.

The introduction of these special trains is part of Northern Railway’s seasonal strategy to improve passenger movement and provide additional capacity during high-demand periods.

The extra services will help distribute passenger traffic across more trains, reduce pressure on existing routes and provide travellers with greater opportunities to secure reserved seats.

As millions of people prepare for Dussehra, Diwali and Chhath Puja journeys, enhanced railway connectivity will play a crucial role in ensuring smoother and more convenient travel across North India.

The new festival special trains connecting Katra, Jammu Tawi, Varanasi and New Delhi are expected to provide important support for passengers while strengthening rail access between major cultural, religious and urban destinations during the festive season.

Northern Railway has announced special trains to assist passenger movement during the festivals of Dussehra, Diwali and Chhath. In addition, on busy routes, special trains have been started to eliminate waiting lists and offer better services to passengers.

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