Bengaluru Indian Railways Launches Special Trains For Diwali Travel Surge
As the festive season approaches, Indian Railways has unveiled a series of special trains to manage the spike in travel demand for Pooja and Diwali across the country. These services will connect major urban centres, including Bengaluru, Chennai, Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and several cities in Kerala. The initiative aims to ensure a seamless travel experience, reduce overcrowding, and provide passengers with greater convenience during the holidays.
Officials from the Southern Railway and Indian Railways confirmed that the special trains have been scheduled to address high passenger demand on key routes, particularly the Bengaluru–Kerala corridor, which witnesses significant traffic over weekends and festive periods. Earlier, weekend travellers relied mainly on the Island Express and Kochuveli-Mysuru Express, leading to congestion and travel discomfort.To better accommodate passengers, services on the Bengaluru–Thiruvananthapuram route have been expanded, offering multiple trips on Saturdays, Sundays, and weekdays. Similarly, services from Thiruvananthapuram to Bengaluru have been adjusted to match demand patterns, ensuring travellers have more options for planning their journey. Experts emphasised that scheduling additional services on high-demand days such as Fridays and Saturdays would further optimise occupancy and convenience.
In addition to increased services on the southern routes, Indian Railways has announced special trains connecting Patna, Ernakulam, Mangaluru, Hyderabad, and Kolkata, among others. Notably, the Chennai–Kottayam service has been extended to Kottayam to meet last-minute demand. These initiatives highlight the railways’ commitment to proactive planning, particularly during peak festive travel.Railway authorities also stressed the importance of digital reservations through IRCTC and ticket counters to manage passenger inflow efficiently. Officials urged travellers to plan ahead, noting that many routes may experience high occupancy even with the introduction of special trains.
The move reflects Indian Railways’ broader efforts to modernise and adapt services to the evolving travel patterns of Indian citizens. By introducing dedicated special trains during high-demand periods, the organisation aims to improve passenger comfort, reduce travel-related stress, and reinforce rail connectivity across the country.These measures are part of the railways’ ongoing strategy to expand its network sustainably, enhance operational efficiency, and provide reliable transport services to millions of passengers during festive seasons.
