Chhath Puja 2026: Indian Railways Runs 150+ Special Trains to Bihar, Check Routes, Dates and Booking Details
Diwali-Chhath Special Trains 2026: Travelling home during Diwali and Chhath Puja can be challenging, especially for passengers heading to Bihar from major cities across India. With thousands of families planning their festive journeys, securing confirmed tickets on regular trains often becomes difficult.
To accommodate the seasonal rush, Indian Railways has arranged special train services connecting Bihar with Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Punjab, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and several cities in southern India.
According to a report published by Aaj Tak on November 5, 2026, more than 150 festival-special train services have been listed to help passengers travelling during the Diwali and Chhath Puja period.
These additional services are particularly useful for migrant workers, students, professionals and families who wish to return to their hometowns for religious celebrations.
Passengers should check the train number, operating date, route and seat availability before making travel arrangements, as festival-special services may operate only on selected days.
More Than 150 Special Train Pairs Arranged for Festive Travel
The Aaj Tak report states that, as of November 3, East Central Railway had arranged 103 pairs of special trains originating from or terminating at stations under its jurisdiction.
Another five pairs were scheduled to operate within the railway zone, while 51 additional pairs were planned to pass through stations in Bihar and Jharkhand.
These arrangements cover both journeys towards Bihar and return trips after the celebrations.
The services connect important destinations including Patna, Danapur, Muzaffarpur, Darbhanga, Saharsa, Barauni, Samastipur, Madhubani, Jaynagar and Purnia.
Delhi to Bihar Special Trains: Important Train Numbers and Dates
Passengers travelling from Delhi and the National Capital Region have several reported options.
| Train No. |
Route |
Reported Operating Schedule |
|---|---|---|
| 02254 |
New Delhi–Patna Vande Bharat Special |
Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday until November 26 |
| 02252 |
New Delhi–Patna Vande Bharat Special |
Saturday, Monday, Wednesday until November 25 |
| 04088 |
New Delhi–Patna Special |
Daily until November 30 |
| 03294 |
Anand Vihar–Patna Special |
Daily until November 22 |
| 04096 |
Anand Vihar–Pataliputra Special |
Daily until November 29 |
| 04090 |
New Delhi–Danapur Special |
Wednesday and Friday until November 27 |
| 03258 |
Anand Vihar–Danapur Special |
Mondays until November 30 |
| 04404 |
Shakur Basti–Patna Special |
November 5–7 and 10–14 |
The published schedule also includes return services from Bihar to Delhi, giving travellers additional options for their journeys after the festival.
Punjab and Chandigarh to Bihar: Special Train Services
Indian Railways has also scheduled festival trains for passengers travelling between Punjab, Chandigarh and Bihar.
| Train No. |
Route |
Reported Schedule |
|---|---|---|
| 04510 |
Chandigarh–Patna |
November 6 |
| 04509 |
Patna–Chandigarh |
November 7 |
| 04512 |
Chandigarh–Patna |
Thursdays until November 26 |
| 04511 |
Patna–Chandigarh |
Fridays until November 27 |
| 04616 |
Firozpur–Patna |
Tuesdays until November 24 |
| 04615 |
Patna–Firozpur |
Wednesdays until November 25 |
These trains may provide alternatives for passengers who cannot obtain confirmed seats on regular services.
Special Trains Connecting North Bihar With Delhi
Travellers heading towards Darbhanga, Muzaffarpur, Barauni, Saharsa and Purnia can also check additional services.
| Train No. |
Route |
Reported Schedule |
|---|---|---|
| 02564 |
New Delhi–Barauni Clone Special |
Daily until November 30 |
| 02570 |
New Delhi–Darbhanga Clone Special |
Daily until November 30 |
| 05220 |
Anand Vihar–Muzaffarpur |
Saturdays until November 28 |
| 05580 |
Anand Vihar–Purnia Court |
Sunday and Tuesday until December 1 |
| 05576 |
Anand Vihar–Saharsa |
Thursdays until November 26 |
| 05284 |
Anand Vihar–Muzaffarpur |
Sundays until November 29 |
| 04028 |
Anand Vihar–Muzaffarpur |
Tuesday and Friday until November 24 |
Passengers should carefully distinguish between New Delhi, Delhi, Anand Vihar and other departure stations, as these terminals are located in different parts of the NCR.
Mumbai, Pune, Gujarat and South India Also Covered
The festive railway arrangements are not limited to northern India.
According to the reported deployment, special services have also been arranged between Bihar and major destinations in western, central and southern India.
These include connections serving Mumbai, Pune, Gujarat, Bhopal, Kota, Gwalior and destinations in southern states.
Additional services link Bihar with Howrah, Ranchi, Tatanagar and Rourkela.
The source provides route-wise train numbers and operating dates for these corridors. Passengers should consult the complete published list or official railway enquiry systems rather than assuming that every special train operates daily.
How to Book Chhath Puja Special Train Tickets Online
Passengers can check eligible trains and reserve tickets through the official IRCTC ticket booking website.
The usual booking process involves entering the departure and destination stations, selecting the journey date, checking available trains and choosing the preferred travel class.
After selecting a train, passengers can enter traveller details and complete payment using the available options.
Before confirming the booking, check whether the service operates on the selected date.
Some festival-special trains run daily, while others operate weekly or only on specific dates.
How to Check Train Timings, Stops and Running Status
Passengers should verify schedules through official railway channels before travelling.
The National Train Enquiry System (NTES) provides train schedule and running information.
Travellers can use the train number to check the scheduled route and relevant operational details.
This is particularly important for festival-special trains because operating dates, stops and timings may differ from regular services.
Important Advice for Passengers Travelling During Chhath
Festival travel often involves heavy passenger traffic at major railway stations.
Passengers should reach their boarding station with sufficient time, carry valid identification and keep their ticket details accessible.
Those travelling with elderly relatives or children should make arrangements according to their needs.
It is also advisable to check return journey options before leaving for the festival, as demand may increase when passengers begin travelling back to their workplaces.
Conclusion
Indian Railways' special train arrangements for Diwali and Chhath Puja 2026 provide additional travel options for passengers heading towards Bihar and neighbouring regions.
With more than 150 reported special train pairs covering different routes, travellers may have alternatives when regular trains are fully booked.
However, the announcement of a special train does not guarantee confirmed ticket availability. Passengers must check the latest operating schedule, fare, boarding station and reservation status through IRCTC or official railway enquiry channels before planning their journey.