Archive · 7 Sep 2026
Diwali 2026 Train Bookings Open as Railways Adds Specials
People traveling home for Diwali and Chhath can now start booking train tickets.
Indian Railways usually allows reservations 60 days before the journey, not counting the travel day.
The booking window opens at 8 a.m.
Many popular routes connect large cities with Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and other states.
Northern Railway has announced extra festival trains to provide more seats.
Some services will run many extra trips, including trains between Delhi, Bihar, Kanpur and Maharashtra.
Passengers should check the reservation date for their specific train and route.
They can use the NTES app for train information and contact RailMadad at 139 for help.
Passengers can reserve Diwali and Chhath train tickets up to 60 days before travel, excluding the journey date.
Advance booking opens at 8 a.m., with high demand expected on routes linking major cities to Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Punjab.
Northern Railway has announced 20 festival special train services to manage the expected festive-season rush.
Major additions include 150 Anand Vihar–Laukaha Bazar trips, 120 Anand Vihar–Patliputra trips and 98 New Delhi–Kanpur trips.
Passengers are advised to check route-specific reservation dates, verify journey details and use NTES or RailMadad for assistance.
- Who
- Passengers traveling for Diwali and Chhath, Indian Railways and Northern Railway.
- What
- Advance train reservations have opened, and 20 festival special train services have been announced.
- When
- Reservations open at 8 a.m. under the 60-day advance booking rule. The articles identify Diwali as November 8; one article specifies November 8, 2026, and says bookings opened September 6.
- Where
- The services cover routes linking cities including Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Varanasi and Chandigarh with destinations such as Patna, Katihar, Muzaffarpur, Kanpur and Ayodhya.
- Why
- The additional trains are intended to provide more connectivity and manage the expected festive-season passenger rush.
- Advance reservation period
- Up to 60 days before the journey, excluding the travel date.
- Booking time
- Advance reservations open at 8 a.m.
- Festival special services
- Northern Railway has announced 20 special train services or route services, according to the articles.
- Highest listed frequency
- Anand Vihar–Laukaha Bazar is scheduled for 150 trips.
- Other high-frequency services
- Anand Vihar–Patliputra is scheduled for 120 trips, while New Delhi–Kanpur Central is scheduled for 98 trips.
- Named route services
- Varanasi–Delhi is scheduled for 50 trips, Ayodhya Cantt–Anand Vihar for 36 trips, Chandigarh–Patna for 18 trips and Firozpur Cantt–Patna for 16 trips.
- Passenger assistance
- Passengers can use the NTES app for train information and contact RailMadad at 139.
