Special Trains

During various festivals in India, railway stations are among the busiest places in the country. To manage the increased passenger demand during festival days, railway zones often introduce special trains, such as Deepavali special trains, Holi special trains and Ganpati special trains - on routes where regular trains may not have enough seats. These services are useful for passengers travelling home for festivals, family functions or holidays.

In 2026, Central Railway announced special services to manage the surge in demand for the October-November festive season. Here are a few things you must know about Indian Railway special trains:

• These temporary railway services are introduced to handle extra passenger demand during the Dasara, Durga Puja, and Diwali festivals. 

• They run for a few days, a week, or a fixed number of trips before and after the festival. 

• They can have different train numbers, routes, timings, and stoppages from regular trains. Therefore, check the schedule for your exact journey date before booking IRCTC train ticket.

• The special train timetable can change depending on the route, operating zone and running date.

• Special trains for Chhath Puja have also been announced.

To manage the expected rush, railways have announced Diwali special trains on several busy routes. Passengers have several options, including special services on Delhi, Chandigarh, Firozpur and Rishikesh routes.

Here’s the Diwali trains list:

Note: The reservation window is limited, so travellers should avoid waiting until the last moment, particularly on popular routes.

Once you have selected the route and travel date for a Ganpati special train, you can book your train ticket through redRail in a few simple steps.

Here’s how you can book your tickets using the redRail platform:

1. Open redRail: Visit the redBus website and go ito the redRail section or open the redRail app.

2. Enter Journey Details: Add your boarding station, destination, and travel date. Tap “Search Trains” to see available services.

3. Choose a Train: Check the available trains, departure and arrival times, travel class, fare and seat availability. Select the service that suits your journey.

4. Fill in the Details: Fill in passenger details including name, age, etc. 

5. Log In: Sign in with your IRCTC user ID. If you do not have an account, you can create one. 

6. Make Payment: Select an available payment method and complete the transaction securely.

7. Confirm the Booking: Enter your IRCTC password when asked. After successful confirmation, the e-ticket will be sent to your registered mobile number and email address.

Conclusion

Special trains introduced during the festival season can make festival travel easier, especially when regular trains are crowded or tickets are difficult to find. If you are travelling during Ganpati Chaturthi, make sure to check the special train timetable and availability before booking. Since these services operate for a limited period, planning early can help you find a suitable train and travel date.