A Major Boost for Festive Travel
Indian Railways has announced a significant number of special trains to manage the anticipated surge in passenger traffic for the 2026 festive season, covering major celebrations like Dussehra, Diwali, and Chhath Puja. Multiple railway zones are participating,
with hundreds of additional services planned to connect major cities and towns across the country. For instance, the Solapur Division alone is running 102 special train trips to enhance connectivity between key hubs like Mumbai, Chennai, Latur, and Kolhapur. Similarly, Northern Railway and Southern Railway have also unveiled extensive schedules, aiming to clear the extra rush on popular routes. This proactive measure is designed to reduce the notorious waitlist crunch that travellers often face, providing more confirmed booking options and ensuring a smoother journey home for the holidays.
Key Routes and Destinations Covered
The new services span the length and breadth of the country, focusing on high-demand corridors. Northern Railway is operating numerous services connecting Delhi with major cities in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, such as Varanasi, Ayodhya Cantt, and Patna. One such service is the Varanasi-Delhi Festival Special Express, scheduled to run multiple times a week between October and November 2026. Western Railway has focused on routes originating from Maharashtra and Gujarat, with special trains from Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) to Chennai and Latur. A weekly special will run between CSMT and Chennai Beach, while a bi-weekly service will connect CSMT with Latur. Down south, Southern Railway has rolled out new trains linking destinations like Chennai Egmore with Kollam and Kanpur Central with SMVT Bengaluru. These routes are critical for connecting industrial and urban centres with hometowns during the festive period.
Notable Train Schedules and Timings
To help travellers plan, railways have released specific schedules for these special trains. The CSMT Mumbai-Chennai Beach Weekly Special (00:35 departure from Mumbai on Wednesdays) and its return service will operate from mid-October to mid-November. For those travelling between Mumbai and Latur, a bi-weekly special will depart Mumbai at 00:35 on Tuesdays and Thursdays between October 13 and November 24. Another significant service is the near-daily train between Kolhapur and Kalaburagi, running six days a week to complete 64 trips in total during the season. For those in the north, a weekly service connects Chandigarh and Patna, while a special express will link Ayodhya Cantt and Anand Vihar Terminal, making 36 trips between October and November. Passengers are advised to check the exact dates and timings, as they vary by service.
How to Book Your Tickets
Booking for most of these festival special trains opened on September 27, 2026. Travellers can secure their seats through the official IRCTC website (irctc.co.in) and the IRCTC Rail Connect mobile app. Additionally, tickets can be purchased at all computerised railway reservation centres across the country. It is important to note that these special trains often operate with special charges, meaning the fares might be slightly higher than regular services on the same route. Given the high demand, railway authorities have urged passengers to book their tickets well in advance and to travel only with a valid, confirmed ticket to avoid any last-minute issues. For real-time updates on train schedules, halt timings, and availability, travellers can use the National Train Enquiry System (NTES) portal or app.
