Indian Railways is set to operate 6556 special trains to facilitate smooth travel for passengers during Durga Puja, Diwali and Chhath Puja from October 1 to November 30 this year as on 6th October 2024. According to Railway officials, special trains are run every year during festivals and this year, the number of trains has been significantly increased to accommodate the surge in travelers.
It is noteworthy that during Durga Puja, Diwali and Chhath festivals, millions of passengers travel across the country. To provide them with a smooth and comfortable journey, Indian Railways has prepared to run these special trains again this year. Over the next two months, these special trains will ensure passengers reach their destinations seamlessly. Last year, Indian Railways ran an impressive total of 4429 festival special trains, ensuring a comfortable travel experience for millions of passengers.
Every year, a large number of people from all over the country travel to Uttar Pradesh and Bihar for Durga Puja, Diwali and Chhath Puja. These festivals are not only of religious significance for the people of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar but also provide an important opportunity to reunite with their families. Due to the heavy rush of passengers during the festive season, most trains see their tickets go on the waiting list two to three months in advance. To address this, Indian Railways is once again operating special trains during the festival season this year.
Southern Railway’s Special Trains
As part of its commitment to easing passenger travel during the upcoming Durga Puja, Chhath, and Diwali festival season, Southern Railway has made concerted efforts to ensure hassle-free journeys by announcing special trains to popular destinations. These services will benefit passengers across Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh, linking key cities such as Chennai, Madurai, Tirunelveli, Coimbatore, Thiruvananthapuram, Mangalore and Palakkad. The special trains are designed to accommodate the significant increase in travelers, ensuring convenient and smooth journeys.
This move is aimed at addressing the surge in demand during festivals such as Durga Puja, Diwali, and Chhath, ensuring that passengers enjoy a seamless and comfortable travel experience. In addition to South Indian destinations, Southern Railway has also notified special trains to various North-bound cities, catering to the festive travel demand across the country. To further enhance passenger convenience, additional coaches will be provided in select trains, ensuring ample capacity during peak travel times.
In Southern Railway, as on date (8th October 2024) 44 trains have been notified, including inter zonal and intra zonal trains for the Puja / Diwali / Chhath 2024 with a total of 394 trips (in comparison with last year’s 21 trains and 78 trips) – Apart from the special trains, several northbound trains have been augmented recently to cater to the festival rush.
The sectors served by the special trains include Kochuveli – Nizamuddin, Chennai – Santragachi, Tambaram – Ramanathapuram, Trichy – Tambaram, Tambaram – Coimbatore (Via Main Line, serving Mayiladuthurai, Kumbakonam, Thanjavur and Trichy) Tirunelveli – Shalimar, Erode – Sambalpur, Coimbatore – Dhanbad, Coimbatore – Chennai Egmore – Podanur, Chennai Central – Nagercoil, Madurai – Kanpur, Kochuveli – Lokmanya Tilak, Kollam – Visakhapatnam etc.
This year, the number of trips has seen a significant increase in response to the anticipated rise in passenger demand. Passengers are encouraged to book their tickets early to avoid last-minute rush and waiting lists during these festive months. Detailed schedules, routes, and timings of special trains are available on the Official Southern Railway website and IRCTC portals.
