Indian Railways has announced additional special trains for Diwali and Chhath travel, adding services between Delhi, Mumbai and major cities in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar as confirmed-ticket availability tightens during the festival season. The trains will operate between November 5 and November 29, 2026, with several services running on a single-trip or limited-period basis.
Dr Shivam Sharma, chief public relations officer of North Central Railway, said the services were being introduced in view of the additional passenger rush during the Diwali and Chhath festivals. Railway authorities have also advised passengers to check updated train information through helpline 139 or the National Train Enquiry System app before travelling.
Among the announced services is train 03439/03440 between Malda Town and Shakurbasti. Train 03439 will leave Malda Town on November 10, while train 03440 will return from Shakurbasti on November 11. The 22-coach service will include six third-AC coaches, eight sleeper coaches, six general coaches and two SLR coaches. The route includes Bhagalpur, Jamalpur, Kiul, Patna, Danapur, Ara, Buxar, Pt Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Junction, Subedarganj, Govindpuri, Tundla, Delhi Junction and Shakurbasti.
A second service, train 01081/01082, will connect Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus in Mumbai with Muzaffarpur. The Mumbai-to-Muzaffarpur train will run on November 6 and 10, while the return service will operate on November 7 and 11. The 16-coach train will have sleeper, general, second-AC and third-AC accommodation. Its route includes Dadar, Thane, Kalyan, Nashik Road, Bhusawal, Itarsi, Jabalpur, Satna, Prayagraj Chheoki, Pt Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Junction, Patna and Pataliputra.
Train 04078/04077 will provide a Delhi-Darbhanga-Delhi connection on November 10 and 11. The service will have 22 coaches, including 11 sleeper coaches and eight general coaches. It will run through Ghaziabad, Tundla, Govindpuri, Subedarganj, Pt Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Junction, Buxar, Danapur, Patna, Bakhtiyarpur, Mokama, Barauni, Samastipur and Darbhanga.
The railway has also scheduled train 03697/03698 between Gaya and New Delhi. The Gaya-New Delhi service will operate from November 7 to November 28 on Tuesdays and Saturdays, while the New Delhi-Gaya service will run from November 8 to November 29 on Wednesdays and Sundays. The 24-coach train will include 12 general and 10 sleeper coaches, and will serve Dehri-on-Sone, Sasaram, Bhabua Road, Pt Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Junction, Prayagraj and Govindpuri.
The most frequent service in the announcement is train 03293/03294 between Patna and Anand Vihar Terminal. The Patna-Anand Vihar service will run daily from November 5 to November 21, with the return service operating daily from November 6 to November 22. The 22-coach train will include third-AC and economy coaches, along with sleeper and general accommodation. It will serve Danapur, Ara, Buxar, Pt Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Junction, Subedarganj and Govindpuri.
Passengers have been advised to verify schedules, stoppages and seat availability before booking because the services have different operating dates and frequencies. Railway authorities have directed travellers to use helpline 139 or the NTES app for the latest operational information.
