Diwali and Chhath Puja special trains announced by Indian Railways for Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu; check full list here

Special trains for Diwali and Chhath Puja 2024: As the festive season begins in India, the demand for travel surges, with festivals like Diwali and Chhath Puja just around the corner. Indian Railways has stepped up to meet this demand by announcing 570 special train services?across its Mumbai, Pune, and Nagpur divisions to ensure passengers can travel comfortably and avoid the usual rush during this time. These festival special trains aim to make travel easier for those returning home to celebrate with family.

As per the latest announcement, 85 special trains have been arranged for these services, with 42 already running as of Saturday. These trains offer various seating options, including general unreserved coaches, sleeper coaches, and air-conditioned compartments, giving passengers flexibility.

Out of the total 570 services, 108 trains will run within Maharashtra, covering important routes like Latur, Sawantwadi Road, Nagpur, Pune, Kolhapur, and Nanded. The remaining 378 services will travel outside the state to cities like Banaras, Samastipur, Asansol, and Agartala.

Specifically, 132 services will depart from Mumbai, 146 from Pune, and the remaining 100 from other places. For those travelling north, Central Railways has scheduled 378 trips to destinations such as Danapur, Gorakhpur, and Chhapra. Meanwhile, 84 trips are planned for southbound passengers heading to places like Karimnagar, Kochuveli, Kazipet, and Bengaluru.

Special Trains to Tackle Festive Travel Rush

The festive season, which kicks off with Sharadiya Navratri, brings added excitement with Diwali, Chhath Puja, and other major celebrations. This is the time when thousands of people living away from their hometowns plan their return journeys. However, securing tickets can be a nightmare due to high demand. To address this, Indian Railways launches several special trains on important routes across the country, helping ensure smooth travel during the holidays.

Diwali and Chhath Puja Special Trains Announced

To help passengers travel during Diwali and Chhath Puja, the following special trains have been announced:

Train 07625: This train will leave Hazur Sahib Nanded at 11 pm every Monday and Wednesday, starting from 21st October until 27th November. It will arrive in Panvel at 1:25 pm the following day.

Both of these trains will operate 12 services each and will stop at the following stations: Parbhani, Nashik Road, Purna, Lasur, Manwat, Igatpuri, Jalna, Kalyan, Selu, Aurangabad, Rotegaon, Partur, Nagarsol, and Manmad.

Additionally, several other trains have been introduced to connect Mumbai, Prayagraj, Samastipur, and Gorakhpur, ensuring a smooth travel experience for passengers heading to these destinations.

Southern Railway to Operate Diwali Special Train Between Chennai and Tirunelveli

Southern Railway has announced an additional Diwali special train from Chennai to southern Tamil Nadu to manage the increased number of passengers during the Diwali festival, reported in TOI.

As per a statement from the zonal railway, train No. 06003 Tirunelveli – Tambaram Festival Special will depart from Tirunelveli at 4:00 PM on 3rd November and arrive at Tambaram at 4:10 AM the following day.

Train No. 06004 Tambaram – Tirunelveli Festival Special will leave Tambaram at 2:30 PM on 4th November and reach Tirunelveli at 5:15 AM the next morning.

These trains will include one AC two-tier coach, two AC three-tier coaches, 10 sleeper class coaches, three general second-class coaches, and two second-class coaches (accessible for passengers with disabilities).

The trains will stop at the following stations: Cheranmahadevi, Kallidaikurichi, Ambasamudram, Kilkadayam, Pavurchathiram, Tenkasi, Kadayanallur, Sankarankovil, Rajapalayam, Srivilliputhur, Sivakasi, Virudhunagar, Tirumangalam, Madurai, Sholavandan, Kodaikanal Road, Dindigul, Manaparai, Trichy, Srirangam, Ariyalur, Vridhachalam, Villupuram, Tindivanam, Melmaruvathur, and Chengalpet.

Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (LTT) – Danapur Daily Special

- Train 01143 LTT-Danapur is a special daily service running from 22nd October to 11th November. It will leave Mumbai's LTT at 10:30 am and arrive in Danapur at 6:30 pm the next day.

- Train 01144 Danapur-LTT Daily Special will operate from Danapur to LTT between 23rd October and 12th November. It will depart Danapur at 9:30 pm and reach LTT at 4:50 am on the third day.

CSMT-Asansol Weekly Special Train?

- Train number 01145, the CSMT-Asansol Weekly Special, will operate every Monday from 21st October to 11th November, departing CSMT at 11:05 am and arriving in Asansol at 2:30 am on the third day. The return service, train number 01146, will run from Asansol to CSMT every Wednesday between 23rd October and 13th November, leaving at 9:00 pm and reaching CSMT at 8:15 am on the third day.

Pune-Danapur Daily Special Train?

Train number 01202, the Pune-Danapur Daily Special, will run from 25th October to 7th November. It will leave Pune at 3:30 pm daily, arriving at 2:00 am the following morning. The return service, train number 01206, will operate from 27th October to 9th November, departing Danapur at 5:30 am and arriving in Pune at 6:15 pm the next day.

CSMT-Agartala Weekly Special Train

Train number 01605, the CSMT-Agartala Weekly Special, will run every Thursday from 31st October to 7th November. It will depart CSMT at 11:05 am and arrive in Agartala at 1:10 pm on Sunday. The return train, number 01066, will leave Agartala every Sunday at 3:10 pm and reach CSMT at 3:50 am on Wednesday, running from 3rd November to 10th November.

LTT-Banaras Weekly Special Train?

Train number 01053, the LTT-Banaras Weekly Special, will run from 30th October to 6th November. It will depart every Wednesday from LTT at 12:15 pm and arrive in Varanasi at 4:05 pm the next day.

Train number 01054 will run every Thursday from Banaras to LTT between 31st October and 7th November. It will leave Varanasi at 8:30 pm and arrive at LTT by 11:55 pm the following day.

LTT-Danapur weekly Special Train

- Train 01009 will operate on 26th, 28th October, and 2nd, 4th November. It will depart from LTT at 12:15 pm and reach Danapur by 5:00 pm the next day.

-Train 01010 will run the return journey from Danapur to LTT on 27th, and 29th of October, and the 3rd, and 5th of November. It will leave Danapur at 6:15 pm and reach LTT by 11:55 pm the following day.

LTT-Samastipur Weekly Special Train

-Train 01043 will depart from LTT every Thursday between 31st October and 7th November at 12:15 pm, reaching Samastipur by 9:15 am the next day.

-The return service, train 01044, will run every Friday from 1st to 8th November. It will leave Samastipur at 11:20 pm and reach LTT by 7:40 am on the third day.

LTT Mumbai - Prayagraj Weekly Special Train?

-Train number 01045, the LTT Mumbai - Prayagraj Weekly Special, will depart from LTT on Tuesdays (29th October and 5th November 2024) at 12:15 pm. It will arrive in Prayagraj at 11:20 am the next day. On the return journey, train number 01046 will leave Prayagraj on Wednesdays (30th October and 6th November 2024) at 6:50 pm, reaching LTT at 4:05 pm the following day. The train will stop at Kalyan, Nashik Road, Bhusaval, Khandwa, Itarsi, Pipariya, Jabalpur, Katni, Satna, Manikpur, and Shankargarh.

LTT Mumbai - Gorakhpur Weekly Special Train?

-Train number 01123, the LTT Mumbai - Gorakhpur Weekly Special, will depart from LTT at 12:15 pm on Fridays and Sundays (25th, 27th October, 1st, and 3rd November 2024). It will arrive in Gorakhpur at 6:55 pm the next day. On the return, train number 01124 will leave Gorakhpur at 9:15 pm on Saturdays and Mondays (26th, 28th October, 2nd, and 4th November 2024), reaching LTT at 7:25 am two days later. The train will stop at Thane, Kalyan, Igatpuri, Nashik Road, Bhusaval, Khandwa, Itarsi, Bhopal, Bina, Veerangna Laxmibai Jhansi, Orai, Kanpur Central, Lucknow, Gonda, and Basti.

Special Trains between Bengaluru and Kalaburagi

The South Western Railway (SWR) has announced the Bengaluru-Kalaburagi Express Special, which will leave Sir M Visvesvaraya Terminal (SMVT) Bengaluru at 9:15 pm on 30th October and 2nd November 2024, arriving in Kalaburagi at 7:40 am the next day. It will stop at Yelahanka, Dharmavaram, Anantapur, Guntakal, Adoni, Manthralayam Road, Raichur, Krishna, Yadgir, and Shahabad. For the return journey, the Kalaburagi-SMVT Bengaluru Express Special will depart from Kalaburagi at 9:35 am on 31st October and 3rd November, reaching SMVT Bengaluru at 8:00 pm the same day, with the same stops. The train will have 19 coaches, including 12 General Second Class, 3 Sleeper Class, 2 AC Three-tier coaches, one Luggage/Brake Van with a generator, and one second-class luggage van with a disabled-friendly coach.

Bihar Special Trains for Chhath Puja and Diwali

The Tejas Superfast Festival Special train will run on selected days to help passengers travel between New Delhi and Patna. From New Delhi, the train will operate on 29th, 31st October, 2nd and 5th November, leaving at 8:25 AM. It will stop at various stations along the way and reach Patna Junction at 8:30 PM on the same day.

For the return trip, the Patna-New Delhi Tejas Superfast Festival Special will run on 30th October, 1st, 3rd and 6th November. It will leave Patna at 7:30 AM, stopping at Ara (8:05 AM), Buxar (8:47 AM), Deen Dayal Upadhyaya (10:30 AM), Prayagraj (12:30 PM), and Kanpur Central (2:38 PM), arriving in New Delhi at 7:35 PM.

Vande Bharat Express for Patna-Delhi Route

For the first time, Indian Railways is launching a Vande Bharat Express on the Patna-Delhi route for the festive season. This trial service is intended to offer faster travel between the two cities, with the journey taking about 11.5 hours. The Vande Bharat Express will only have chair car seating and no sleeper class, unlike other trains.

The Patna-Delhi Vande Bharat Express will leave New Delhi at 8:25 AM on 30th October, 1st, 3rd, and 6th November, arriving in Patna at 8:00 PM after stopping at key stations like Ara, Buxar, DDU, Prayagraj, and Kanpur. The return service will run on 2nd, 4th, and 7th November, departing from Patna at 7:30 AM.

Vande Bharat Express Fare Details

The fare for the Vande Bharat Express between Patna and Delhi is Rs 2,575 for the AC chair car, while the fare for the AC Executive Chair Car is Rs 4,655.

Delhi-Patna Superfast Festival Special

Indian Railways will also operate the Delhi-Patna Superfast Festival Special Express on 24th and 31st October. This train will leave Delhi at 11:55 PM and arrive at Patna Junction at 4:40 PM the next day. The return service will run on 25th October and 1st November, departing from Patna at 5:50 PM. It will make stops at Danapur, Ara, Buxar, DDU, Prayagraj, and Govindpuri before reaching Delhi.

Book Your Festival Special Train Tickets

Passengers can book tickets for these Diwali and Chhath Puja special trains via the IRCTC app or at railway ticket counters. To ensure a smooth journey, make sure to book your tickets early, especially for Tatkal tickets, as seats are limited.

This initiative by Indian Railways ensures that everyone can travel conveniently during the festive season and enjoy time with their loved ones.

With special trains running across various routes, Indian Railways has made festive travel easier for millions of passengers. Whether you're heading home for Diwali or Chhath Puja, make sure to check the special train routes and book your tickets in advance to avoid any last-minute hassles.

(Disclaimer: The information provided in this article regarding the special trains announced by Indian Railways for Diwali and Chhath Puja is based on official announcements and may be subject to change. Passengers are advised to check the latest updates and schedules on the official Indian Railways website or the IRCTC app before planning their journeys. We do not assume any responsibility for any discrepancies or changes in the train services.)