Full details on special trains for Chhath and Diwali: When and from which cities will they operate?
The Railways has decided to run over 1,000 special trains between October 1 and November 30, 2026, for the Diwali and Chhath festival period. These trains will complete a total of 8,454 trips. Read on for full details.
During Durga Puja, Diwali, and Chhath, the number of passengers traveling home increases significantly. Each year, the Railways introduces special trains during this period to help passengers secure confirmed tickets so they can travel home for the festivities. This year, too, the Railways has decided to operate special trains connecting major cities—such as Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, locations in Jharkhand, and Surat—to various destinations.
During the festive season, the rush becomes so intense that there is hardly any space left—not just on the trains, but even at the railway stations. Securing tickets for buses also becomes difficult. Given this, one might ask: how many special trains has the Railways decided to run this year, and which routes will see the highest number of these special services? Let’s take a detailed look.
How many special trains are being operated?
In light of the surge in passenger numbers during Durga Puja, Diwali, and Chhath, the Railways has decided to run over 1,000 special trains between October 1 and November 30, 2026. These trains will complete a total of 8,454 trips throughout October and November. Notably, the number of trips by these special trains has been increased by approximately 30 percent compared to last year.
Which routes will have the highest number of train trips?
According to data provided by the Railways, the highest number of special train trips has been allocated for Bihar. Find out which regions follow next. Bihar – 2,057 special train trips
UP – 1,056 special train trips
Delhi – 975 special train trips
Maharashtra – 863 special train trips
West Bengal – 464 special train trips
Complete details on special trains for Chhath and Diwali: when will they run, and from which cities?
Trains from Delhi to Bihar
New Delhi–Patna Vande Bharat Special
Train No. 02252/02251 New Delhi–Patna Vande Bharat Special
This train operates between Delhi and Patna.
Train No. 02252 departs from New Delhi at 8:35 AM and arrives in Patna at 9:30 PM on the same day.
Train No. 02251 departs from Patna at 10:00 AM and arrives in New Delhi at 11:30 PM.
Stoppages: Aligarh, Kanpur Central, Prayagraj Junction, Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Junction, Buxar, and Ara. From Delhi to Patna, the train will run on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays between October 21 and November 25. The return service will operate from October 22 to November 26, running on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays.
2. New Delhi–Supaul Special
For passengers traveling to Supaul (Bihar) and surrounding areas, this route is available. Train No. 04072 runs from Delhi toward Supaul, while Train No. 04071 serves as the return trip.
3. Anand Vihar–Bhagalpur Special
The Anand Vihar–Bhagalpur Special (Train No. 04062/04061) is also in operation. Its route passes through several major stations in Bihar. Therefore, be sure to check the schedule—specifically when the train runs, the dates it will be operational, and its timings. Trains from Mumbai to Bihar
Special trains are being operated for passengers traveling from Mumbai to Bihar, with services directed towards Danapur, Patna, and Samastipur.
Train number 01143, the Lokmanya Tilak Terminus–Danapur Special, is currently in operation. This train runs from October 19 to November 21. It departs from Lokmanya Tilak Terminus at 10:30 AM and arrives in Danapur at 9:50 AM the following day.
Train number 01044, the Lokmanya Tilak Terminus–Samastipur Special, is also being operated; it will run from October 13 to November 17.
Trains for Jharkhand and West Bengal
Additionally, special trains are being operated for passengers traveling to Jharkhand and West Bengal for the Diwali and Chhath festivals.
Train number 02877/02878, the Ranchi–Anand Vihar Special, serves passengers traveling between Jharkhand and Delhi. This special train will operate from October 3 to November 29, 2026.
Train number 03041/03042, the Howrah–Raxaul Special, is in operation from October 15 to November 27.
Train number 03135/03136, the Sealdah–Patna Special, is available for those traveling between Kolkata and Patna.
Train number 03185/03186, the Kolkata–Madhubani Special, is for passengers traveling from West Bengal to Madhubani in Bihar. This train will run between October 14 and November 25.
Trains from Surat to Patna
For those traveling from Surat to Bihar, there are also special train options available towards Patna and Jaynagar. Train number 09045/09046, the Udhna-Patna Special, is for passengers traveling to Patna and its surrounding areas.
Additionally, the Udhna-Jaynagar Special is for those traveling to the Mithilanchal region and areas around Jaynagar.
Full details regarding special trains for Chhath and Diwali—including schedules and departure cities—are provided below.
Please keep a few important points in mind.
The Railways operates multiple trains on every route, allowing you to book tickets according to your specific needs and budget.
Additionally, please verify the scheduled operating dates for each train, as many services run only on specific days of the week.
It is also important to note that the availability of special trains does not guarantee a confirmed ticket; high passenger demand during such periods can make securing a seat quite difficult.
Furthermore, do not just book tickets for your onward journey—ensure you also book your return tickets in advance.
Most importantly, for information regarding train timings, stoppages, operational details, and schedules, you may contact the Railway helpline number at 139.
