Festive Train Services Added
Indian Railways Announces Multiple Festive Special Trains to Ease Heavy Holiday Travel Demand
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Key Points
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The New Delhi–Darbhanga special will leave New Delhi at 9:30 a.m. and reach Darbhanga around noon the following day; its return service will depart Darbhanga at 3 p.m.
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The New Delhi–Howrah special will cover approximately 1,531 kilometers via Patna Junction in about 30 hours, arriving in Howrah at 11:40 p.m. the day after its Friday departure.
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Additional listed stops on the New Delhi–Howrah route include Bandel, Barddhaman, Chittaranjan, Madhupur, Jasidih and Jhajha, extending the service’s coverage across West Bengal, Jharkhand and Bihar.
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The Howrah special will offer General Second Class, Sleeper Class and air-conditioned accommodation; Eastern Railway said ticket booking would begin soon, with the booking date to be announced separately.
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Eastern Railway officials said the New Delhi–Howrah service was announced because regular trains were facing extreme demand, with waiting lists above 290 on some services and some trains or classes displaying “REGRET,” indicating that their waiting-list limits had been reached.
Indian Railways is adding festive special trains to handle massive travel demand during Durga Puja, Diwali and Chhath festivals. Indian Railways announced two key services: a New Delhi–Howrah weekly special and a daily New Delhi–Darbhanga service. Regular trains on these routes show waiting lists above 290 passengers and some classes marked "REGRET," meaning they've hit capacity limits.
The New Delhi–Howrah special will run Fridays from October 2 through November 27, 2026, departing at 6:15 p.m. and arriving the next evening after a 30-hour, 1,531-kilometer journey. The service offers General, Sleeper and air-conditioned coaches across nine round trips, with ticket booking to start soon.
New Delhi–Howrah Weekly Service Covers Nine States
Trains 04052/04051 will serve major stations across Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal. Key stops include Kanpur, Prayagraj, Patna, Danapur, Asansol, Durgapur, Bandel, Barddhaman, Chittaranjan, Madhupur, Jasidih and Jhajha. The return service departs Howrah at 1:40 a.m. Sundays from October 4 through November 29.
Eastern Railway officials cited extreme demand on existing routes to justify the new service. Some regular trains show waiting lists exceeding 290 passengers. The special will make nine trips in each direction, offering multiple accommodation options beyond standard services.
Daily New Delhi–Darbhanga Service Targets Bihar Travel
A separate festival special, trains 04098/04097, runs daily from October 10 to November 25. The service departs New Delhi at 9:30 a.m. and reaches Darbhanga around noon the next day. Return service leaves Darbhanga at 3 p.m., offering another option for passengers heading to Bihar during the holiday season.
Both services target travelers heading home for major festivals. Indian Railways has announced 1,053 special trains nationwide for the October 1 to November 30 festive period, a 61-day stretch covering Durga Puja, Diwali and Chhath.
Multiple Accommodation Classes and Ticket Booking Details
Both specials offer General Second Class, Sleeper Class and air-conditioned coaches. The Howrah service covers 1,531 kilometers in about 30 hours, while the Darbhanga route provides faster overnight access to Bihar. Eastern Railway said exact ticket booking dates will be announced soon.
The move reflects Indian Railways' strategy to ease congestion on high-demand festival routes. Beyond these two specials, Northeast Frontier Railway is operating four pairs of festival trains across northeastern routes during the same period.
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