Be it the excitement of Diwali, preparations for Chhath Puja or the excitement of Durga Puja, everyone tries to reach their home during festivals. This is the reason why the number of passengers in trains suddenly increases around festivals. Despite booking tickets months in advance, long waiting lists are seen on many routes. In view of the increasing crowd of passengers, Indian Railways runs festival special trains on different routes. The purpose of these trains is to transport additional passengers to their destinations during festivals. But many passengers have a question in their mind that what is the difference between regular train and festival special train? Let us understand.
There may be a difference in fare
Ticket fare in regular trains is decided on the basis of normal railway tariff. At the same time, in some special trains, special fare different from the normal fare may be applicable. Due to this, the festival special train ticket may be costlier than the regular train depending on the concerned train and category. Therefore, it is better to compare the fares before booking tickets.
Who gets priority in arriving on time?
Regular trains are operated as per their scheduled schedule and the fixed operational plan of the Railways. On the other hand, special trains are run as additional services. In case of heavy traffic on the route, special trains may sometimes have to be stopped to give way to other trains. Therefore, in some cases the possibility of them being late may increase. However, train timings and delays entirely depend on the railway operations of that day.
There may be difference in coach and facilities also
Regular trains may have modern LHB coaches, sleepers, AC coaches and other amenities depending on the train type. Whereas in festival special trains, Railways can use different types of coaches according to the available coaches and rakes. For this reason, it is not necessary that the facilities be the same in every special train. Pantry car facility is also not available in some trains. In such a situation, it may be convenient for travelers traveling long distances to carry their own food and water.
Which train is better for you?
Which train is better for you depends on your travel needs. If you are booking tickets well in advance and want to keep the budget in mind, then regular train can be a good option depending on the availability and fare. Whereas, if tickets are not available in regular trains during festival time and you have to undertake an urgent journey, then festival special train can be a useful option. Before booking a ticket, please check the information about fare, journey time, train coach and available facilities.
Special tip for those going to UP-Bihar
During Diwali and Chhath Puja, the number of passengers increases significantly on the routes going to UP and Bihar. In such a situation, additional special trains can be announced by the Railways. If you are going to travel on these routes, then keep an eye on the IRCTC website or app and the official information of the Railways. It would be better to book tickets as soon as seats become available when the new special train is announced.
Note: Fares, timings, stoppages and facilities available on Festival Special trains may vary depending on the train. Before booking tickets, please check the latest information about the concerned train.