Railways Announce Hundreds of Special Services
To manage the immense passenger rush during the Dussehra, Diwali, and Chhath Puja festivals, both Central Railway (CR) and Western Railway (WR) have announced a significant number of special train services. Central Railway is set to run 418 special services,
while Indian Railways in total has announced over a thousand trips for the festive period. These trains will connect Mumbai’s major terminals—like Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT), Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (LTT), and Bandra Terminus—to destinations across the country. The services are designed to ease the travel burden for the lakhs of people heading to their hometowns for the holidays, operating throughout October and November 2026.
Key Routes to North India
A large number of special trains are aimed at clearing the heavy rush towards Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Central Railway has announced daily special trains between CSMT and Gorakhpur, along with bi-weekly services from LTT to destinations like Mau and Banaras. Western Railway has also pitched in with weekly and bi-weekly specials from Mumbai Central and Bandra Terminus to places such as Danapur, Gorakhpur, Subedarganj, and Bhagalpur. These trains will typically halt at major junctions like Kanpur Central, Lucknow, Prayagraj Chheoki, and Varanasi, providing crucial connectivity for one of the busiest travel corridors during the festival season.
Connectivity to South and West India
The festive rush isn't limited to North India. To cater to passengers traveling south, Central Railway is operating weekly AC special services between CSMT and Chennai Beach, as well as CSMT and SMVT Bengaluru. For those heading to the Konkan coast and Kerala, special services will run between LTT and Madgaon (Goa) and LTT and Thiruvananthapuram. Additional services within Maharashtra have also been announced, including bi-weekly trains between CSMT and Latur and weekly superfast services connecting CSMT with Nagpur and Kolhapur. These trains provide much-needed extra capacity on popular routes.
Your Booking Guide: Timings and Platforms
Booking for these special trains is a time-sensitive affair. Tickets for most of these festive specials opened in the last week of September 2026. It's crucial to act fast, as seats on these high-demand routes get filled within minutes. Bookings can be made through the official IRCTC website (irctc.co.in), the IRCTC mobile app, and at all computerized Passenger Reservation System (PRS) counters. Be aware that these special trains often come with special charges, meaning the fare might be slightly higher than regular services on the same route.
Tips for a Confirmed Ticket
Given the high demand, getting a confirmed ticket requires a strategy. First, ensure your IRCTC account details are up-to-date and you have saved passenger lists to speed up the booking process. If you miss the initial booking window, keep an eye out for Tatkal quotas, which open at 10 AM for AC classes and 11 AM for non-AC classes one day in advance of the train's origin station departure. Another option is to look for 'clone trains' or supplementary services that railways sometimes announce at the last minute if waitlists on primary trains are too long. Always check for real-time updates on the National Train Enquiry System (NTES) portal or app before and during your journey.
