With India heading into its most vibrant and travel-heavy time of the year, Indian Railways has announced a major move to manage the festive crowd: 150 special trains will run across high-demand routes between September 21 and November 30, ensuring smoother journeys during Durga Puja, Diwali, and Chhath Puja.
In total, the special trains will cover 2,024 trips across key zones, catering to the millions of passengers expected to travel home or go on holiday during this busy season. From Delhi to Patna, Mumbai to Chennai, and Hyderabad to Gaya, these additional services aim to reduce congestion and improve availability during the peak rush.
High-Demand Routes Covered
The special trains are being deployed strategically on high-traffic routes, especially those connecting metros to Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities. Key destinations include Patna, Muzaffarpur, Gaya, Darbhanga, Hyderabad, Vijayawada, Mumbai, Surat, Kolkata, and Chennai regions that typically experience overwhelming demand during the festival period. 
Which Zones Are Running the Most Trains?
Indian Railways is coordinating the rollout zone-wise, with the South Central Railway leading in service numbers:
- South Central Railway (SCR):
48 trains | 684 trips
Covers: Hyderabad, Secunderabad, Vijayawada - East Central Railway (ECR):
14 trains | 588 trips
Focuses on: Patna, Gaya, Darbhanga, Muzaffarpur
(High emphasis on Bihar-bound traffic) - Western Railway:
24 trains | 204 trips
Covers: Mumbai, Surat, Vadodara - Southern Railway:
10 trains | 66 trips
Routes include: Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai - Eastern Railway:
24 trains | 198 trips
Covers: Kolkata, Sealdah, Howrah
Other zones also participating in the rollout include:
- East Coast Railway: Routes via Bhubaneswar, Puri, Sambalpur
- South Eastern Railway: Routes via Ranchi, Tatanagar
- North Central Railway: Routes via Prayagraj, Kanpur
- Southeast Central Railway: Covers Bilaspur, Raipur
- West Central Railway: Includes Bhopal, Kota
As train tickets get snapped up quickly during the festive period, this announcement comes as a welcome relief for passengers heading to their hometowns or holiday destinations. Whether it’s celebrating Diwali with family or performing Chhath Puja rituals in Bihar and Eastern India, these extra trains are set to make travel more accessible and convenient.
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