What Are Festive Special Trains?
Every year, to manage the immense travel demand during festivals like Diwali and Chhath Puja, Indian Railways operates hundreds of additional 'special' trains. These are temporary services deployed on high-traffic routes to clear the extra rush. You can
identify them easily as their train numbers typically start with a '0'. Unlike regular trains with a fixed annual schedule, these services run for a limited period, usually from a few weeks before the festival to a few weeks after. Their primary purpose is to add capacity where it's most needed, ensuring more people can travel home to celebrate with their families. Announcements for these trains are made by various railway zones, so it's good to keep an eye on official channels.
Key Routes Announced for Diwali 2026
For Diwali 2026, several railway zones have already announced a significant number of special services. Central Railway is running 418 special services connecting major hubs like Mumbai and Pune with destinations in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and various southern states. Similarly, Northern Railway has introduced numerous trains linking Delhi with cities like Varanasi, Ayodhya, and Patna. Key routes with announced special services include Varanasi-Delhi, Chandigarh-Patna, Firozpur Cantt-Patna, Mumbai-Chennai, and CSMT Mumbai-Latur. Southern Railway has also added services, such as a new train between Kanpur and Bengaluru. These trains are scheduled to run throughout October and November to cover the entire festive period.
How to Book These Special Services
Booking a special train is done through the same platforms you use for regular tickets: the official IRCTC website or mobile app. When you search for trains between your desired stations for your travel dates, these special services will appear in the search results alongside regular trains, identifiable by their '0' prefix number. Bookings for many of these 2026 festive specials opened in late September. It is crucial to book as soon as the window opens, as these seats fill up extremely quickly on popular routes. You can also book tickets at computerised reservation counters at railway stations. Prepare by having your passenger details saved in your IRCTC master list for a faster checkout process.
Understanding 'Special' Fares and Rules
One important thing to note is that these trains run on a 'special fare' basis, which is typically higher than the fare for a regular mail or express train. The pricing structure often involves a surcharge, which can be 10% to 30% higher than the base fare, similar to Tatkal pricing. This dynamic pricing helps cover the costs of running additional, unscheduled services during peak times. Furthermore, most standard concessions, such as those for senior citizens, are generally not applicable on these special trains. Only confirmed e-tickets are usually issued, with policies for RAC and waitlisted tickets varying. Always check the specific terms when booking.
Pro Tips for Securing a Seat
Given the high demand, a little strategy goes a long way. First, be flexible with your travel dates. Special trains might not run daily, so checking a few days before or after your ideal date could reveal available seats. Second, act fast. Tickets for routes to Bihar and Uttar Pradesh can be gone within minutes of bookings opening. Follow railway-related news and official social media handles to know the exact moment bookings will start. Third, consider alternative boarding or destination stations. A train to a major junction near your hometown might have better availability than one going directly to your local station. Finally, keep checking. Railways sometimes announce additional special trains in phases, closer to the festival dates, as demand continues to build.
