Indian Railways Announces Special Festival Trains for Diwali and Chhath Puja

In a significant move to accommodate the festive rush, Indian Railways has announced the operation of approximately 7,000 special trains during the upcoming Diwali and Chhath Puja celebrations. This initiative aims to ease the travel plans of passengers during one of the busiest travel seasons in India. The Western Railway (WR) has also commenced operations for around 120 new trains starting from October 29.

Newly Introduced Festival Special Trains

To further facilitate the passengers, Western Railway has introduced three pairs of Festival Special Trains. This information was shared through a post by the Western Railway’s public relations team, highlighting the decision to run these special trains at special fares to accommodate the influx of travelers during the festival season.

Here are the details of the newly launched Festival Special Trains:

  1. Udhna-Katihar-Ujjain Reserved Special Train
  2. Udhna-Danapur-Vadodara Unreserved Special Train
  3. Udhna-Prayagraj Unreserved Special Train

Ticket Booking Information

Tickets for these special trains can be booked starting today, October 31, through PRS counters and the IRCTC website. This move is expected to streamline the ticketing process and ensure that travelers can secure their seats ahead of the festivities.

Schedule of Operations

According to Vinit Abhishek, Chief Public Relations Officer of Western Railway, the schedule for these special trains is as follows:

  • Train Number 09047/09048 (Udhna-Katihar-Ujjain Special):
    • Departure: Udhna on November 1, 2024, at 00:20 AM
    • Arrival: Katihar at 14:00 PM the next day
    • Return Journey: Train Number 09048 departs Katihar on November 2, 2024, at 17:00 PM, arriving in Ujjain at 23:30 PM the following day.

This train will stop at major stations including Sant Hiradaram Nagar, Bina, Sagar, Damoh, Katni Murwara, Satna, Manikpur, Prayagraj Chheki, Mirzapur, Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyay, Buxar, Ara, Patliputra, Hajipur, Barauni, Begusarai, Khagaria, and Naugachia.

  • Train Number 09053 (Udhna-Danapur Special):
    • Departure: Udhna on October 31, 2024, at 10:00 AM
    • Arrival: Danapur at 23:30 PM the next day.

Train Amenities

The special trains will offer various classes of accommodation including AC 2 Tier, AC 3 Tier, Sleeper Class, and General Class coaches. This diverse range of options ensures that all passengers can find a suitable travel class that meets their needs during the festive season.

With these arrangements in place, Indian Railways aims to provide a hassle-free travel experience for millions of passengers celebrating Diwali and Chhath Puja. This extensive planning underscores the commitment of Indian Railways to support festive travel in the country.