A Lifeline for Festive Travellers
Each year, the period around Diwali and Chhath Puja sees an unprecedented demand for train tickets as millions of people travel to their hometowns to celebrate with family. For 2026, Chhath Puja begins on November 13, with the main observances on November 15.
Regular trains on routes connecting major hubs like Delhi, Mumbai, and Kolkata to destinations in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh are often fully booked months in advance. To provide relief for countless passengers, various railway zones, including Eastern and Northern Railway, have introduced special services. These trains are crucial in clearing the extra rush and ensuring that more people can make their journey home safely and without the stress of securing a reserved ticket.
Understanding These 'Unreserved' Specials
The term 'unreserved special train' primarily means that passengers can travel by purchasing unreserved general tickets from station counters without needing an advance reservation. This is a significant advantage during the festive season when reserved seats are unavailable. These trains, often identified by a five-digit number starting with '0', are composed mostly or entirely of general second-class coaches. Passengers can purchase tickets for these specific services on the day of travel or a few days in advance via the UTS mobile app or at station ticket counters. It's important to note that a regular unreserved ticket for a Mail/Express train is not valid on these special fare trains.
Key Routes from Bengal to Bihar & UP
Eastern Railway has announced several unreserved trains connecting West Bengal with key destinations in Bihar and UP. One major route is the Howrah-Patna Special (03033/03034), which leaves Howrah at 5:40 PM to reach Patna at 5:00 AM the next day. Another service connects Howrah with Muzaffarpur (03039/03040), departing Howrah at 5:40 PM and arriving at 6:00 AM. To cater to travellers to UP, a Kolkata-Gorakhpur Special (03141/03142) will depart from Kolkata on November 13 at 4:40 PM, reaching Gorakhpur the next morning. Additionally, services from Sealdah to Jaynagar (03137/03138) and Ballia (03139/03140) have been announced for specific dates in mid-November. These trains consist of around 18 general coaches each, providing significant capacity.
Special Services from Delhi and Chandigarh
To cater to the heavy passenger flow from the national capital region, special services have been announced from Delhi and Chandigarh. While many of these are reserved specials, they play a vital role in easing the overall burden. For instance, a Chandigarh-Patna Festival Special (04511/04512) has been scheduled to accommodate travellers. Another service connects Chandigarh with Barauni (04535/04536). The Northern Railway has also rolled out services from Anand Vihar Terminal to destinations like Sabour and Muzaffarpur. Passengers are advised to regularly check the IRCTC website and the NTES app for the most up_to_date information on both reserved and unreserved special trains originating from the Delhi area, as more services may be announced based on demand.
Connecting Mumbai with Uttar Pradesh
For the large number of people travelling from Maharashtra to their homes in Uttar Pradesh, special trains have been deployed. A notable service is the daily special between CSMT Mumbai and Gorakhpur (01079/01080). The 01079 train from CSMT to Gorakhpur is scheduled to run daily until November 16, 2026, providing a consistent travel option during the peak festive period. These long_distance services are critical for managing the rush from one of the country's busiest metropolitan areas to one of its most populous states. Travellers from the Mumbai region should monitor announcements from both Central Railway and Western Railway for any additional services towards Lucknow, Varanasi, Prayagraj, and Gorakhpur.
