To accommodate the surge of passengers travelling for Diwali and Chhath Puja, the Central Railway has announced four additional festive special trains between Mumbai’s Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (LTT) and Chhapra. The move is aimed at reducing congestion and ensuring smoother long-distance travel during the peak holiday season, when rail traffic traditionally witnesses unprecedented demand across northern routes.
According to senior officials, these trains will operate as part of Central Railway’s crowd management strategy, designed to handle the sharp increase in passenger volume during festival weeks. The additional services will begin from October 29 and continue through early November, providing relief to thousands of commuters heading to Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Train No. 05084 will depart from LTT on October 31 at 14:00 hrs and arrive in Chhapra on the third day at 04:45 hrs, while its counterpart, Train No. 05083, will leave Chhapra on October 29 at 20:00 hrs, reaching Mumbai on the third day at noon. Similarly, Train No. 05588 will depart from LTT on November 1 and Train No. 05587 will leave Chhapra on October 30.
The composition of these trains includes a mix of AC and non-AC coaches, balancing affordability with comfort for a wide range of passengers. Officials stated that each train will feature multiple AC three-tier, sleeper, and general class coaches, ensuring that capacity matches the seasonal demand. The routes have been planned to maximise connectivity across key transit points such as Nashik, Itarsi, Jhansi, Kanpur, Lucknow, and Gorakhpur — providing accessibility to major junctions in central and northern India. These halts also ensure better regional inclusivity, as smaller towns along the route benefit from temporary capacity enhancement during the festive window.
Bookings for the new services open on October 30 at all reservation counters and on the IRCTC website. Passengers can also use the UTS app for unreserved tickets. Officials from Central Railway have encouraged passengers to use the official digital channels for real-time updates on schedules, seat availability, and delays, reinforcing the transition towards contactless, paperless ticketing systems — an important step in making rail travel more sustainable. These temporary measures also underline the growing challenge of accommodating mass seasonal mobility within India’s ageing railway infrastructure. While additional trains alleviate short-term pressure, experts emphasise the need for long-term capacity expansion through high-speed corridors, upgraded rolling stock, and smart scheduling systems that balance efficiency with environmental responsibility.
As millions prepare to travel for family gatherings and religious festivities, the move reflects the railway’s effort to combine operational preparedness with passenger comfort. The initiative also highlights the role of public transport systems in facilitating inclusive mobility while maintaining focus on sustainability and energy efficiency.
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