As Diwali approaches, the annual scramble for train tickets intensifies, leaving many hopeful travellers to Uttar Pradesh waitlisted. In response, Indian Railways has announced a series of unreserved special trains to manage this festive surge.
A Lifeline for Last-Minute Travellers
The festive
season, especially Diwali and Chhath Puja, witnesses a massive migration of people from major metropolitan areas to their hometowns in states like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Getting a confirmed reserved seat becomes nearly impossible weeks in advance. These newly announced special trains, primarily composed of General Second Class (GS) coaches, are a significant relief. They are specifically designed to cater to the overwhelming demand from passengers who were unable to secure advance reservations. While travel in unreserved coaches can be crowded, they offer an essential and affordable option for countless individuals and families to make it home for the holidays. Northern Railway and Eastern Railway have been at the forefront of these announcements, planning thousands of extra trips to ease the pressure on the network.
Key Unreserved Routes to UP and Bihar
To clear the extra rush, Eastern Railway has announced several fully unreserved services connecting West Bengal with key destinations in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. These trains require passengers to purchase unreserved tickets, which can be bought at station counters without advance booking. One such service is the 03141/03142 Kolkata-Gorakhpur special. The train from Kolkata (03141) departs on November 13 and travels via stations like Asansol, Jasidih, and Chhapra to reach Gorakhpur. Another crucial service is the Sealdah-Ballia special (03139/03140), providing connectivity to another major town in eastern UP. Additionally, several other special trains with a high number of unreserved coaches are being operated on high-demand corridors like Delhi-Patna, Anand Vihar-Patliputra, and Howrah-Patna, many of which pass through or terminate in Uttar Pradesh. Each of these services will make only a limited number of trips, so passengers are advised to check the specific dates of operation.
Important Dates and Train Details
The announced unreserved trains are scheduled for specific dates in November to coincide with the peak travel days for Diwali and Chhath Puja. For instance, the Sealdah–Ballia Special (03139) is scheduled to depart from Sealdah on November 11, 2026. The Kolkata–Gorakhpur Special (03141) will leave Kolkata on November 13, 2026. Many other festival special trains, which may include a mix of reserved and unreserved coaches, are operational from mid-October through the end of November 2026. For example, a daily special service runs between CSMT Mumbai and Gorakhpur (01079) until November 16, 2026. Passengers must note that these are temporary services operating for a limited period, and they should verify the exact running dates and timings from official sources before planning their journey.
How to Travel on Unreserved Specials
Travelling on these trains requires purchasing an unreserved or 'general' ticket for the specific special train service. It is important to note that regular unreserved tickets for Mail/Express trains are not valid on these 'special fare' trains, which often have a slightly higher base fare. Tickets for these journeys can be purchased at the booking counters at railway stations. For added convenience, passengers can also use the official Indian Railways UTS mobile application to book unreserved tickets. The app allows for booking paperless tickets, which can be shown directly on a smartphone, or paper tickets that need to be printed from a kiosk (ATVM) at the station. Given the expected rush, passengers should arrive at the station well in advance to have enough time to purchase tickets and board the train safely.
