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Diwali is still weeks away, but railway bookings are open now. With demand expected to surge, here’s what passengers need to know before planning their train journey
Before paying for a ticket, travellers should cross-check the train number, date of journey, boarding point and destination.
Indian Railways News: The countdown to Diwali may still have some weeks to go, but for railway passengers planning an inter-city journey, the travel rush begins much earlier. Ticket reservations for journeys around Diwali 2026 opened on September 6, allowing passengers to secure berths before demand rises closer to the festival.
Diwali falls on November 8, 2026. Railway passengers can normally reserve tickets as early as 60 days before their journey, without counting the day of travel. The booking window opens at 8 am.
Since the applicable booking date depends on the journey date, passengers should check when reservations open for their particular train and route rather than assuming that all Diwali journeys become bookable on the same day.
Why Booking Early Could Matter
Festive-season travel usually puts some of the country’s busiest railway corridors under considerable pressure. Passengers travelling towards Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and other states are likely to compete for seats on popular services connecting these regions with major cities.
Among the routes that could see heavy demand are Delhi-Patna, Patna-Ahmedabad, Patna-Udhna, Mumbai-Patna, Howrah-Patna, Bengaluru-Patna, Firozpur-Patna, Varanasi-Delhi, Kanpur-Delhi, Ludhiana-Supaul, Ludhiana-Patna, Chennai-Patna, Hyderabad-Patna and Delhi-Gorakhpur.
Those travelling on these corridors may want to check their reservation opening date in advance and be prepared to book when the window becomes available.
Railways Adds Special Services For The Festive Rush
Regular trains are not the only option for passengers this festive season. According to a report in The Economic TimesNorthern Railway has announced a series of Festival Special Trains-2026, covering several high-demand corridors. The services will link destinations across Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Punjab, Chandigarh, Maharashtra and other parts of the country.
The announced services include trains connecting Varanasi with Delhi, Ayodhya Cantt with Anand Vihar, Chandigarh with Patna, Firozpur Cantt with Patna and Anand Vihar with Patliputra, among other routes.
Varanasi-Delhi Service To Make 50 Trips
One of the announced services is Train Nos. 04209/04210 Varanasi Jn.-Delhi Jn.-Varanasi Jn., which will operate as a reserved Festival Special Express. The service is scheduled for 50 trips.
On the Varanasi-Delhi run, Train No 04209 will leave at 10:15 pm and reach Delhi at 1:45 pm the next day. The return train, 04210, will start from Delhi at 6:50 pm and reach Varanasi at 9:50 am.
The outward service will run on specified Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from October 2 to November 27. The return journey will operate on specified Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays between October 3 and November 28.
Passengers will have AC 2 Tier, AC 3 Tier, Sleeper and General accommodation options.
Ayodhya Cantt-Anand Vihar Train Scheduled For 36 Trips
Northern Railway has also planned Train Nos 04213/04214 Ayodhya Cantt-Anand Vihar (T)-Ayodhya Cantt for the festive period. The service will make 36 trips.
Train No 04213 will begin its journey from Ayodhya Cantt at 6:20 pm, reaching Anand Vihar at 6:10 am. In the opposite direction, Train No 04214 will leave Anand Vihar at 9 am and reach Ayodhya Cantt at 10 pm.
The trains will operate on specified days between October 1 and November 30.
More Trains To Connect Chandigarh, Firozpur With Patna
Passengers travelling between Punjab, Chandigarh and Bihar will also have additional options. The 04512/04511 Chandigarh-Patna Jn-Chandigarh service will operate weekly and make 18 trips. Its listed halts include Ambala Cantt, Saharanpur, Roorkee, Moradabad, Bareilly, Shahjehanpur, Varanasi, Pt Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Jn, Buxar, Ara and Danapur.
Another service, 04616/04615 Firozpur Cantt Jn-Patna Jn-Firozpur Cantt Jn, is scheduled for 16 trips. This train will stop at stations including Moga, Ludhiana, Ambala Cantt, Saharanpur, Roorkee, Moradabad, Bareilly, Shahjehanpur, Varanasi, Pt Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Jn, Buxar, Ara and Danapur, among others.
Other Festival Trains Passengers Can Check
- Northern Railway’s list of festive services also includes the following trains:
- 02456/02455 New Delhi-Kanpur Central-New Delhi: 98 trips
- 04014/04013 Anand Vihar (T)-Laukaha Bazar-Anand Vihar (T): 150 trips
- 04002/04001 Hazrat Nizamuddin-Dadar-Hazrat Nizamuddin: 14 trips
- 04227/04228 Varanasi-Chandigarh-Varanasi: 36 trips
- 04008/04007 Anand Vihar (T)-Jogbani-Anand Vihar (T): 10 trips
- 04028/04027 Anand Vihar (T)-Muzaffarpur-Anand Vihar (T): 26 trips
- 04010/04009 Delhi Jn-Sitamarhi-Delhi Jn.: 12 trips
- 02458/02457 Anand Vihar (T)-Kanpur Central-Anand Vihar (T): 72 trips
- 04314/04313 Yog Nagari Rishikesh-Muzaffarpur-Yog Nagari Rishikesh: 18 trips
- 04096/04095 Anand Vihar (T)-Patliputra-Anand Vihar (T): 120 trips
What Passengers Should Check Before Booking
Once the reservation window opens for a particular journey, passengers can check train timings and berth availability through the official railway booking channels.
Before paying for a ticket, travellers should cross-check the train number, date of journey, boarding point and destination.
For railway-related assistance and complaints, passengers can contact RailMadad on 139. The NTES app is another source of information on railway services.
Diwali Rush Could Fill Popular Trains Quickly
For many passengers, travelling home is an important part of the Diwali celebrations. That also means trains on popular routes can become crowded well before the festival itself.
Travellers should therefore work out their journey dates early and keep an eye on the date when reservations open for their chosen service. Those unable to find a berth on regular trains can also consider the Festival Special services announced by Northern Railway, which are expected to provide additional capacity during the festive travel period.
September 07, 2026, 09:54 IST
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