Indian Railways has announced four additional Festival Special trains between Mumbai and Chhapra, catering to the heavy passenger traffic during the Diwali–Chhath travel period. The move aims to provide safer, more comfortable, and reliable transport for thousands of passengers heading towards northern India.
According to railway officials, two pairs of trains — numbered 05084–05083 and 05588–05587 — will operate in both directions from Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (LTT) in Mumbai to Chhapra. The trains are scheduled to commence operations between October 29 and November 1, 2025, ensuring enhanced capacity for long-distance travellers. The first pair, Train No. 05084, will leave Mumbai at 14:00 hrs on October 31 and reach Chhapra by 04:45 hrs on the third day. The return service, Train No. 05083, will depart Chhapra at 20:00 hrs on October 29, reaching Mumbai by 12:00 hrs two days later. Similarly, Train No. 05588 will start from Mumbai on November 1 at 14:00 hrs, while Train No. 05587 will leave Chhapra on October 30 at 20:00 hrs.
The special trains have been designed to accommodate diverse passenger categories, including air-conditioned coaches, sleeper classes, and general compartments. The Railway Ministry has ensured that each train is equipped with modern facilities and adequate seating to manage the anticipated surge. Officials added that the trains will maintain superfast Mail/Express speeds to minimise travel time despite the increased load. Key halts include Kalyan, Nashik Road, Bhusaval, Itarsi, Bina, Jhansi, Kanpur Central, Gomti Nagar, Gorakhpur, and several junctions across Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. This routing not only ensures connectivity between key economic corridors but also supports inter-state mobility during India’s busiest travel season.
Reservations for the new services opened on October 30, with tickets available through all computerised booking counters and the IRCTC website. For unreserved travel, passengers can use the UTS app or book at stations, as normal superfast train fares apply. Senior officials highlighted that these special trains are part of Indian Railways’ broader festive operations plan to handle the seasonal surge sustainably. Measures include better crowd management, real-time travel information through the NTES app, and improved platform safety. Officials further indicated that such temporary additions reduce dependence on private or unsustainable modes of transport, indirectly cutting down the carbon footprint associated with road-based long-distance travel.
With over one lakh passengers departing from Mumbai daily towards Uttar Pradesh and Bihar during the festive season, the Railways’ proactive expansion underlines its commitment to inclusive and sustainable mobility. The initiative not only addresses social demand but also strengthens India’s public transport backbone through timely intervention and capacity management.
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