Business News : Northern Railway has planned more than 6,200 special train trips for the festive season, anticipating a huge rush of homebound passengers during Diwali and Chhath Puja. According to the report, the number of trips increased by nearly 30% this year compared to 4,666 last year. The purpose of these additional services is to reduce pressure on regular trains, especially on routes connecting Delhi and other northern cities to various places in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal. Passengers often face difficulty in getting confirmed tickets due to increased demand for tickets.
Organized over 6,200 trips
According to the report, Northern Railway has announced around 3,600 special train trips so far, and the total trips planned for the festive season are expected to exceed 6,200. The railway zone has also regularized 42 new trains this year. These services will operate around 2,600 trips during the festive season, further strengthening the arrangements made to meet the heavy rush of passengers.
Northern Railway Chief Public Relations Officer Himanshu Shekhar Upadhyay said in a report that special arrangements are being made to ensure that passengers do not face any unnecessary inconvenience while going home during the festive season. This increase in services is because it is often difficult to get a confirmed seat on popular routes, and tickets for special trains are booked very quickly as soon as they are announced.
Which route will benefit?
Northern Railway operates additional services on routes that connect the national capital and other northern cities with major destinations in eastern India. Passenger demand on this route is high around Diwali and Chhath Puja, as many people travel to their hometowns to celebrate the festivities with their families. According to the report, the special train services include the following routes:
Delhi-Patna Vande Bharat, Shakur Basti-Darbhanga, Mata Vaishno Devi-Varanasi, Chandigarh-Patna, New Delhi-Howrah, Amritsar-Barauni. These additional services are expected to offer more travel options on busy routes, although seat availability will vary depending on the train, date and destination.
Strengthen station safety and facilities
Apart from the increase in train services, the Northern Railway has increased arrangements to meet the heavy rush of passengers at the stations during the festive season.
Additional ticket counters have been opened and additional staff deployed to assist passengers.
Security has also been strengthened to manage congestion and improve passenger flow at busy stations.
The measures are intended to reduce congestion and help passengers more easily navigate stations during the busiest travel times of the year.
During Diwali and Chhath Puja, there is a significant increase in the number of rail travelers, especially among passengers traveling from major cities to towns and villages in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and neighboring states. Regular trains often experience high demand before festivals, forcing many passengers to seek alternative options. Special trains increase capacity on selected routes, while the introduction of new regular trains can provide additional travel options beyond the festive rush.