Festive Special Train: Railway's gift to the people of UP-Bihar in the festive season, 6,000 special trains will run on Diwali-Chhath

Railway Festive Special Trains: Indian Railways has decided to run 6,000 special trains between October 8 and November 8 for Hindu festivals starting from Durga Puja (October 9), especially Diwali (November 1, 2024) and Chhath Puja (November 7 and 8).

With the festival season approaching, the Railways has decided to run these special trains for the convenience of more than 1 crore passengers.

Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw told reporters on Friday (September 27) that in view of the heavy rush during festivals, 12,500 coaches have been sanctioned in addition to adding additional general coaches in 108 trains. Many rail routes especially going to Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal are heavily crowded during the festivals of Durga Puja, Diwali (Diwali 2024 Date) and Chhath.

Vaishnaw said a total of 5,975 special trains have been notified so far for this year's festival season, while the number was 4,429 last year. "This will facilitate more than one crore passengers to travel home during the Puja," the railway minister said, according to PTI. Durga Puja festivities will begin on October 9, while Diwali will be celebrated on October 31 or November 1. Chhath Puja will be held on November 7 and 8 this year.

Festival Special Trains for UP-Bihar

Many festival special trains will run between Anand Vihar Terminal and Barauni as well as Hazrat Nizamuddin and Patna. These trains will have AC coaches for the convenience of passengers. Apart from this, a special train has been announced from Sirhind to Saharsa for passengers going towards the east. Anand Vihar-Barauni Weekly Special Train will leave every Sunday from 6 October to 17 November at 9 am. While it will reach Barauni at 6:30 am the next day.

The return journey will start every Monday from October 7 to November 18 at 8 am. It will reach Anand Vihar Terminal at 10:10 am the next day. It will stop at Aligarh, Tundla, Etawah, Kanpur Central, Lucknow, Sultanpur, Jaunpur, Ghazipur City, Ballia, Surmenpur, Chhapra and Hajipur.

The Hazrat Nizamuddin-Patna special train will leave Patna every Monday and Wednesday from October 7 to November 27 at 11:55 pm and reach Patna at 4:40 pm the next day. In return, the train will leave Hazrat Nizamuddin every Tuesday and Thursday from October 8 to November 28 at 6:05 pm and reach Hazrat Nizamuddin at 10:50 am the next day.