Railways To Run Thousands of Special Trains for Diwali-Chhath Puja 2025
1. Massive Festive train PlanDuring festivals like Chhath, diwali, and Durga Puja, train travel surges dramatically. This year, Railway Minister has announced:
- 150 Puja special trains will run from 21 september to 30 november 2025
- Over 12,000 train trips across various zones
- Focus on routes from Bihar, Jharkhand, Bengal, South India to metro cities
2. Zone-Wise Special TrainsRailways has made special arrangements zone-wise:
- South Central Railway: Running the majority of the festive trains across South India
- East Central Railway: 14 trains covering Bihar routes, totaling 588 trips to cities like Patna, Gaya, Darbhanga, and Muzaffarpur
- Eastern Railway: 24 trains on Kolkata, Sealdah, and Howrah routes, totaling 198 trips
- Western Railway: 24 trains on Mumbai, Surat, and vadodara routes to benefit passengers from maharashtra and Gujarat
- Southern Railway: 10 trains on Chennai, Coimbatore, and madurai routes, totaling 66 trips
3. Special Arrangements from Other ZonesApart from major zones, Railways will also operate:
- East Coast Railway: Trains from Bhubaneswar, Puri, and Sambalpur
- South Eastern Railway: Relief on Ranchi and Tatanagar routes
- North Central Railway: Trains on Prayagraj and kanpur routes
- Other major routes: Special trains from Bilaspur, Raipur, Bhopal, and Kota
4. How to Book Special TrainsMany passengers wonder if special trains require a different booking process. The answer is no:
- Booking is done online via IRCTC or from railway counters
- Same as regular trains
- Tickets can be booked well in advance to ensure a seat during the rush
5. Quick Recap
- Total trains: 12,000+ special trips
- Major focus: bihar, Jharkhand, Bengal, South India
- Booking: Online via irctc or counters
- Duration: 21 september – 30 november 2025
- Benefit: Reduced overcrowding, more travel options