Diwali Chhath special trains 2026: Varanasi-Delhi runs 50 trips, Ayodhya-Anand Vihar 36
Published
Indian Railways has 102 festival services from Dasara to Chhath. Our route list has trip counts, dates and the one train with full numbers, plus what the lists still leave out for Mumbai and Bihar.
Original report
Schedules as reported up to 14 October 2026.
The Varanasi-Delhi festival special train runs 50 trips between 2 October and 28 November 2026, and the Ayodhya-Delhi (Anand Vihar) special runs 36 trips between 1 October and 30 November, Business Today reported on 28 September (Business Today, 2026). Both are booked through the IRCTC app, the IRCTC website or station counters.
They are among 102 festival services Indian Railways has announced from Dasara to Chhath, counting each direction separately, HinduTone reported (HinduTone, 2026).
The Ayodhya service keeps running two weeks after Chhath ends, so the trip back is covered too. Below are the routes, trip counts and dates we could confirm, and what the lists still leave out.
Diwali Chhath special trains 2026: the busiest routes into UP and Bihar
- Varanasi-Delhi: 50 trips, 2 October to 28 November (Business Today, 2026; HinduTone, 2026).
- Ayodhya-Delhi (Anand Vihar): 36 trips, 1 October to 30 November (Business Today, 2026; HinduTone, 2026).
- Chandigarh-Patna: 18 trips (Business Today, 2026).
- Firozpur-Patna: 16 trips (Business Today, 2026).
Business Today's report does not give full train numbers for the routes into Bihar. One long-distance service does have them.
Kanpur to Bengaluru: the one train with full numbers
Southern Railway's Kanpur Central-SMVT Bengaluru special runs as train 04131 on Sundays from 4 October, leaving at 4.30 pm, Business Today reported (Business Today, 2026).
The return, 04132, runs on Wednesdays from 7 October and leaves at 7.10 am (Business Today, 2026).
On that weekly pattern, the next Sunday departure from Kanpur after 14 October falls on 18 October. The working: 4 October plus two weeks is 18 October.
Further south, one zone has added its own festival trains.
South Central Railway adds 34 Dasara specials
South Central Railway is running 34 Dasara-Bathukamma specials between 9 and 25 October, HinduTone reported (HinduTone, 2026).
It also lists two weekly routes from Charlapalli (HinduTone, 2026):
- Charlapalli-Sengottai: 18 weekly services.
- Charlapalli-Prayagraj: 20 weekly services.
Those services sit on a festival calendar that sets when the rush will peak.
The dates to plan around
HinduTone gives the festival dates as Dussehra on 20 October, Diwali on 8 November and Chhath from 13 to 16 November 2026 (HinduTone, 2026).
Set against those dates, the Varanasi-Delhi special runs until 28 November, 12 days after Chhath ends on 16 November. The Ayodhya-Delhi special runs until 30 November, 14 days after.
How to book and track a festival special
Tickets are sold on the IRCTC app and website and at station counters, Business Today reported (Business Today, 2026). Live running status is on NTES, and the RailMadad helpline is 139 (Business Today, 2026; HinduTone, 2026).
What the lists don't have yet
The reports we read do not give train numbers or booking-open dates for Mumbai-Bihar or Mumbai-UP festival specials. They also do not give full train numbers for the Delhi-Bihar routes.
HinduTone reported that more specials are expected as demand grows (HinduTone, 2026).
How the coverage split
Business Today framed its list around people going home, with a full schedule. HinduTone organised its list route by route, from Dasara through to Chhath.
Questions people are asking
How many Diwali Chhath special trains are there in 2026?
Indian Railways has announced 102 festival services, counting each direction separately, HinduTone reported.
When is Chhath 2026?
From 13 to 16 November 2026, according to HinduTone.
How many trips does the Varanasi-Delhi festival special make?
50 trips, between 2 October and 28 November 2026, Business Today reported.
How do I book a festival special train?
Through the IRCTC app, the IRCTC website or a station counter.
What are the Mumbai to Bihar special train numbers?
They were not in the railway lists we read as of 14 October 2026.
What happens next
Chhath runs from 13 to 16 November, and the Varanasi and Ayodhya specials to Delhi run until 28 and 30 November (Business Today, 2026; HinduTone, 2026).
References
- Business Today (2026) Going home for Diwali-Chhath? Railways announces special trains, check full schedule. India Today Group. Available at: Going home for Diwali-Chhath? Railways announces special trains, check full schedule (Accessed: 14 October 2026).
- HinduTone (2026) Festival Special Trains 2026: Dasara, Diwali and Chhath Specials Announced So Far, Route by Route. HinduTone. Available at: Festival Special Trains 2026: Dasara, Diwali and Chhath Specials Announced So Far, Route by Route (Accessed: 14 October 2026).
How we did this
We compared two published lists: Business Today's schedule of 28 September 2026 and HinduTone's route-by-route list, read on 14 October. We kept only the routes, trip counts, train numbers and dates we could confirm in them, and we worked out how long each Delhi service runs after Chhath. We did not check the IRCTC booking system itself, so seat availability is not covered.
This story was produced, reviewed, edited and verified by the reporter before publication, with AI assistance where required.
Covered by 2 outlets across the spectrum: 0% left, 50% center, 0% right.
Who is covering this story
- Center (1): Business Today
- Not yet rated (1): HinduTone