With the festive season approaching, the Central Railway has announced 966 Festival Special train trips from Pune Division to cater to the surge in passenger demand during Diwali, Puja, and Chhath 2025. Officials confirmed that the move aims to ease congestion on high-traffic routes to Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Vidarbha, Rajasthan, and Karnataka.
The trains will operate at a premium of 1.3 times the normal fare, a practice often adopted during peak travel seasons to manage heavy bookings and discourage overcrowding. According to railway officials, the enhanced fare structure helps accommodate additional services, manage operational costs, and balance passenger demand with available infrastructure. The festive timetable will see bi-weekly, weekly, and daily trains running across routes such as Pune–Danapur, Pune–Ghazipur City, Pune–Amravati, Nagpur–Hadapsar, Kolhapur–Kalaburagi, and Pune–Sanganer. Some long-distance trains, including those connecting Pune to Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, will travel more than 1,900 km with journey durations extending to nearly 40 hours.
For passenger convenience, ticket bookings are available both at reservation counters and on the IRCTC portal. Unreserved tickets can also be purchased via the UTS app or at station counters. Officials have advised passengers to check the National Train Enquiry System (NTES) for real-time schedule updates to avoid last-minute disruptions. Railway planners highlighted that Pune has become a critical hub for festive migration, with thousands of seasonal travellers using its network to return home for cultural celebrations. Over the past few years, demand has consistently outstripped supply during Diwali and Chhath, pushing the railways to introduce additional services to ensure smoother movement of people.
Transport experts noted that while operating extra trains helps meet immediate needs, sustainable mobility solutions will require long-term planning. Enhancing electrification, upgrading tracks, and integrating high-capacity rakes are crucial for reducing dependence on premium fares while improving efficiency. They added that planning for green energy transition within the rail sector is equally vital, especially as passenger volumes rise during peak festive seasons. The Central Railway’s initiative reflects the dual challenge of addressing short-term passenger expectations while keeping pace with India’s broader commitment to sustainable and low-carbon transport solutions. With the festive rush expected to intensify in the coming weeks, the effectiveness of these additional trains will be closely watched by both passengers and policymakers.
Also Read : Mumbai Monorail Faces Technical Glitch At Wadala Leaving Commuters Stranded Mid Journey
