Indian Railways to Roll Out 150 Festive Special Trains – Full Schedule Inside

As the festive season approaches, Indian Railways has unveiled its plan to operate 150 Puja Special Trains across India. These trains aim to ease travel for millions of passengers heading home for Durga Puja, Diwali, and Chhath Puja. Scheduled between September 21 and November 30, 2025, the special trains will make 2,024 trips in total, covering major cities and festive hubs across the country.

With heavy demand expected during this period, the Railways has ensured wider coverage across zones, giving passengers better travel convenience and smoother festive journeys.

South Central Railway Leads the Festive Operations

The South Central Railway (SCR) is operating the highest number of Puja Special trains this year. A total of 48 trains with 684 trips will run from key hubs like Hyderabad, Secunderabad, and Vijayawada.

These routes are among the busiest in southern India, especially during the festive rush. The additional services will bring much-needed relief to passengers traveling to and from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.

Focus on Bihar: East Central Railway Adds More Trains

Festive travel demand in Bihar sees a sharp rise every year during Durga Puja, Diwali, and Chhath Puja. To cater to this demand, the East Central Railway (ECR) will operate 14 trains with 588 trips.

These trains will connect major cities including:

• Patna

• Gaya

• Darbhanga

• Muzaffarpur

This step is expected to ease passenger movement on one of the most crowded routes in the festive calendar.

Eastern and Western Railways: Major Boost for Kolkata and Mumbai Travelers

The Eastern Railway (ER) will operate 24 Puja Special Trains, completing around 198 trips between Kolkata, Sealdah, and Howrah. This will be a huge relief for travelers in West Bengal, where festive travel peaks during Durga Puja celebrations.

On the other hand, the Western Railway (WR) will also run 24 trains, connecting Mumbai, Surat, and Vadodara with key festive destinations. These routes are particularly important for passengers heading towards Gujarat, Maharashtra, and further eastwards.

Southern Railway Joins With 10 Festive Specials

The Southern Railway (SR) will operate 10 special trains covering routes from Chennai, Coimbatore, and Madurai, with a total of 66 trips planned. These trains will provide smoother travel options for those heading to Tamil Nadu and neighboring states during Diwali and other regional festivals.

Other Zones Contributing to Festive Travel

Apart from the main zones, several others will also play a crucial role in managing the festive rush. These include:

• East Coast Railway (ECoR): Special trains from Bhubaneswar, Puri, Sambalpur

• South Eastern Railway (SER): Trains from Ranchi and Tatanagar

• North Central Railway (NCR): Services from Prayagraj and Kanpur

• Other Regions: Bilaspur, Raipur, Bhopal, Kota and more

This wide coverage ensures that passengers across the country benefit from additional services.

Surat to Kolkata Festive Trains

Passengers in Gujarat and West Bengal will see improved connectivity as Western Railway runs trains to Surat, while Eastern Railway connects Kolkata, Sealdah, and Howrah with multiple festive destinations. These services are expected to significantly reduce congestion for long-distance festive travelers.

More Trains Likely in Coming Weeks

Indian Railways has clarified that this announcement is part of the first phase of special train operations. In previous years, over 12,000 festive special trains were operated to meet demand. This year too, more trains are expected, especially in East Central Railway routes where passenger rush is anticipated to peak closer to Chhath Puja.

Conclusion

With 150 Puja Special Trains covering key routes across India, Indian Railways is fully geared up to handle the festive rush. From metros like Mumbai, Kolkata, and Chennai to festive hubs such as Patna, Darbhanga, and Muzaffarpur, these special trains will ensure smoother travel for passengers.

As more announcements are expected, travelers are advised to keep an eye on the official Indian Railways train schedule to book their tickets early and avoid last-minute hassles.