{"id":503519,"date":"2026-10-10T12:40:01","date_gmt":"2026-10-10T12:40:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.akbartravels.com\/in\/blogs\/?p=503519"},"modified":"2026-10-10T12:40:03","modified_gmt":"2026-10-10T12:40:03","slug":"indian-railways-festival-special-trains-whats-new","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.akbartravels.com\/in\/blogs\/indian-railways-festival-special-trains-whats-new\/","title":{"rendered":"Indian Railways Festival Special Trains 2026: What’s New?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Diwali falls on November 8, 2026<\/em>, and festive travel bookings are already underway. Railway zones have announced Indian Railways festival special trains 2026 for Puja, Diwali and Chhath, with routes linking Mumbai, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and several other states. Here\u2019s what passengers should know before planning their journey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you want to start your own business or earn extra income, this is the perfect time – become an IRCTC authorised agent and earn up to \u20b980,000 in commissions<\/a> every month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What\u2019s The Update?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Train<\/a>
Railway Platform
Image Credit: Venkat Sudheer Reddy\/Unsplash<\/a><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Northern Railway and Beyond<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The Indian Railways festival special trains 2026 include a broad set of extra services. North Central Railway has announced 1,053 \u201cTrains on Demand\u201d trips across 13 railway zones, scheduled between October 1 and November 30. These services will run at different frequencies, based on passenger demand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Northern Railway\u2019s listed trains include Varanasi-Delhi, scheduled for 35 trips in each direction, and Kanpur-Anand Vihar Terminal, with services running through October and November. Other routes connect Prayagraj and Subedarganj with Delhi-area stations. Exact running days vary, so passengers should check the train number and date before booking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also Read: Beautiful Train Journeys in India: Bollywood Movie Views<\/a><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Central Railway\u2019s 418 Services<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Central Railway has announced 418 special services for the Puja, Diwali and Chhath season. They will run from stations including CSMT, LTT, Pune, Hadapsar and Nagpur, connecting passengers to destinations such as Gorakhpur, Chennai, Bengaluru, Latur, Nagpur, Kolhapur, Madgaon and Thiruvananthapuram. Bookings for the festival special trains during Diwali season opened in two batches, on September 27 and 28.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Separately, Solapur Division has announced 102 festive trips, including Mumbai-Chennai, Mumbai-Latur and Kolhapur-Kalaburagi services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you’re planning a festive getaway, don’t procrastinate! Book your stay online and grab the best deals on hotels online<\/a> before everything gets booked up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Booking Basics<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

For regular reservations, the advance booking window is 60 days before the journey date, excluding the travel day. So Diwali train tickets 2026 booking dates depend on the specific date of travel. Fares and conditions can differ by service. Check the train\u2019s official notice for fare details, timings and stops. For travellers looking to explore India by train, all-inclusive India tour packages<\/a> offer a convenient way to plan the journey, with travel and other essentials organised in one package.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Conclusion<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A festival special trains can be a useful alternative if a regular service is full. Check the official schedule before travel, and book Diwali train tickets 2026 as soon as the relevant booking window opens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Frequently Asked Questions: Indian Railways Festival Special Trains 2026<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Is there any concession for senior citizens in train ticket booking?
<\/strong> Indian Railways does not provide any travel discounts for senior citizens. Fare concessions were stopped during the pandemic and have not been brought back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What age proof documents are accepted for children under 5 on trains?
<\/strong>You can use any government document like an Aadhaar card, Birth Certificate, or Passport to prove your child’s age.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do we need to take ticket for child in train?
<\/strong>Children under 5 travel for free if they share a seat or berth with an adult. You only need to buy a ticket if you want a separate seat or berth for them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to check special train for Diwali?
<\/strong>You can find these trains by looking for “Special” or “Festival Special” tags on the official IRCTC website or the NTES app.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When can I book trains for Diwali 2026?
<\/strong>You can book your tickets right now. Since Diwali is in November 2026, the 60-day booking window for those dates is already open.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How many days before we can book a special train ticket?
<\/strong>You can book tickets exactly 60 days in advance for both regular and special trains. Indian Railways recently reduced the booking window from 120 days down to 60 days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What are the IRCTC special train lists for 2026?
<\/strong>Indian Railways runs hundreds of festive trains like 04131 (Kanpur to Bengaluru) and 04209 (Varanasi to Delhi). The full active list is updated daily directly on the IRCTC booking portal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keep Exploring:<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Platform Chaos? Not Here! Meet the All-Women Staff in Central Railway Station!<\/a>
Indian Hill Station That Carries the \u201990s Summer Nostalgia To Your Vacation<\/a>
How to Beat the Heat: Early Summer Flight Tips for Hot Weather Travel<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Akbar Travels Services<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n


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Diwali falls on November 8, 2026, and festive travel bookings are already underway. Railway zones have announced Indian Railways festival special trains 2026 for Puja, Diwali and Chhath, with routes linking Mumbai, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and several other states. Here\u2019s what passengers should know before planning their journey. If […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":503553,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":true,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[245,2],"tags":[12579,11249,242,9780],"class_list":["post-503519","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-irctc-indian-railway","category-travel-news","tag-indian-railway","tag-indian-railway-special-trains","tag-indian-railways","tag-indian-railways-diwali-update"],"acf":{"api_home_image":503553},"yoast_head":"\nIndian Railways Festival Special Trains 2026: What's New?<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Make festive travel easier with Indian Railways Festival Special Trains 2026. 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