Archive · 18 Sep 2026
Northern Railway Adds Festival Specials to Ease Jammu Division Rush
Northern Railway is adding three pairs of special trains for the festival season.
These trains will connect Katra, Jammu Tawi, Varanasi and New Delhi.
They are being introduced because many more people are expected to travel during the festivals.
Two of the special services will run nine times each way.
The New Delhi-Katra service will run four times each way.
The trains will stop at several important stations along their routes.
Railway officials say the services will make it easier for passengers to get confirmed tickets.
They also expect the trains to reduce crowding on regular services.
Northern Railway’s Jammu division will operate three pairs of reserved special trains during the festival season.
The Katra–Varanasi special will make nine trips in each direction from October 4 to December 1.
The Jammu Tawi–Varanasi special will also make nine trips in each direction from October 1 to November 27.
The New Delhi–Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra special will make four trips in each direction during October 8-12.
The services aim to reduce pressure on regular trains, ease waiting lists and improve passenger connectivity during Dussehra, Diwali and Chhath Puja.
- Who
- Northern Railway’s Jammu division and railway passengers.
- What
- Three pairs of reserved festival special trains will operate on routes connecting Katra, Jammu Tawi, Varanasi and New Delhi.
- When
- From October 1 through December 1, with individual services operating on specified dates.
- Where
- The trains will run via Jammu division between Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra, Jammu Tawi, Varanasi and New Delhi, with additional stops including Pathankot, Jalandhar, Ambala and Saharanpur.
- Why
- To meet anticipated festival travel demand, reduce waiting lists and relieve pressure on regular trains during Dussehra, Diwali and Chhath Puja.
- Operator
- Northern Railway’s Jammu division
- Services
- Three pairs of reserved festival special trains
- Katra–Varanasi service
- Nine trips in each direction; operates from October 4 to December 1
- Jammu Tawi–Varanasi service
- Nine trips in each direction; operates from October 1 to November 27
- New Delhi–Katra service
- Four trips in each direction on October 8-12
- Purpose
- To provide additional connectivity and reduce festival-season pressure on regular trains