New Delhi: The Ministry of Railways will operate 12,000 special trains to manage the heavy passenger rush during Diwali and Chhath, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnav announced on Monday. The move follows consultations with Bihar NDA leaders, who had urged the Centre to prioritise the convenience of the state’s passengers during the festive season.
As part of the plan, four new Amrit Bharat trains will be launched, connecting Delhi–Gaya, Saharsa–Amritsar, Chhapra–Delhi, and Muzaffarpur–Hyderabad. These services will focus on providing improved facilities for general-class travellers.
Vaishnav said the number of festival specials has been significantly increased this year. “Last year, we ran 7,500 special trains. This year, Indian Railways is scaling up to 12,000 to ensure passengers can reach home for Chhath and Diwali,” he told reporters in Delhi.
Of the 12,000 planned services, 10,000 trains have already been notified, while another 150 unreserved trains will be deployed at the last minute to meet peak demand. Operations will run from October 1 to November 15.
In addition, Vaishnav announced an experimental scheme to ensure smoother travel: passengers booking tickets between October 13 and 26 will be guaranteed confirmed seats. Return journeys between November 17 and December 1 will carry a 20% discount on fares.
The measures, he added, are designed to ease the travel burden on migrant workers and families returning home during India’s busiest travel season.
