Northern Railway Festival Special Trains 2026: Booking List
Full list of Northern Railway festival special trains for Diwali and Chhath 2026 from Delhi, Anand Vihar & Punjab to Bihar & UP with booking dates & routes.
🔔 Planning festival travel from Delhi, Anand Vihar, or Punjab? Find confirmed seats and smart split routes on high-demand festive corridors:
TL;DR
Northern Railway has announced an extensive schedule of festival special trains for Diwali and Chhath Puja 2026 connecting New Delhi, Anand Vihar Terminal, Old Delhi, and Punjab to high-demand destinations across Bihar and Eastern Uttar Pradesh including Patna, Darbhanga, Supaul, Bhagalpur, Muzaffarpur, Varanasi, and Ayodhya. Bookings are actively open on the IRCTC portal and PRS station counters under Train on Special Fare (TOSF) tariffs with flat 10% to 30% surcharges. If direct services display REGRET or deep waitlists, use Smart Seats to find confirmed split-journey berths along the route, check Chart Times for charting notifications, and claim vacant berths on Chart Vacancy post-charting.
Which Festival Special Trains Has Northern Railway Announced for Diwali and Chhath 2026?
Northern Railway has notified festival special train services for Diwali and Chhath Puja 2026 connecting New Delhi, Anand Vihar Terminal, Delhi Junction, and Punjab to Bihar and Uttar Pradesh destinations including Patna, Darbhanga, Supaul, Bhagalpur, Muzaffarpur, Varanasi, and Ayodhya Cantt. These 0-series rakes operate through October and November 2026 across AC, Sleeper, and General unreserved classes.
Every autumn, millions of professionals, students, and families based in the National Capital Region (NCR) and across northern industrial hubs travel home to celebrate Diwali and Chhath Puja. Because perennial express trains such as the Sampoorna Kranti Express, Bihar Sampark Kranti, Vaishali Express, and Magadh Express exhaust their reservation capacity within seconds of the 60-day Advance Reservation Period (ARP) opening, Northern Railway deploys dedicated 0-series Trains on Demand (TOD).
Northern Railway (NR) festive operations focus on these primary arterial corridors:
- Anand Vihar Terminal Outbound Cluster: Dedicated high-capacity special express trains departing Anand Vihar Terminal (ANVT) for Purvanchal and North Bihar, serving passengers travelling to Darbhanga, Bhagalpur, Muzaffarpur, Jaynagar, and Ayodhya Cantt.
- New Delhi & Delhi Junction Trunk Corridors: Flagship festival services running from New Delhi (NDLS) and Delhi Junction (DLI) to Patna, Danapur, Supaul, Saharsa, and Varanasi via Kanpur and Prayagraj.
- Punjab & Haryana Festive Connections: Direct long-distance special trains linking industrial centres in Chandigarh, Firozpur, Ludhiana, and Ambala directly to Danapur, Patna, and Muzaffarpur.
- Dedicated Unreserved and Mixed Rakes: Compositions combining 4 to 6 General Second Class (GS) coaches alongside AC 2-Tier, AC 3-Tier, 3E Economy, and Sleeper accommodation to ensure affordable options for every traveller.
These festival services run with 04xxx series train identifiers, operating on specialized provisional schedules coordinated around core express train movements.
What Are the Top Special Trains from Anand Vihar Terminal to Bihar and Eastern UP?
Top Northern Railway special trains from Anand Vihar Terminal connect to Ayodhya Cantt, Bhagalpur, Darbhanga, and Muzaffarpur to ease peak Diwali and Chhath congestion in East Delhi. Key services include 04214/04213 Anand Vihar–Ayodhya Cantt Special, 04062/04061 Anand Vihar–Bhagalpur Special, and 04098/04097 Anand Vihar–Muzaffarpur Superfast, offering AC 3-Tier, 3E Economy, Sleeper, and General coaches via Moradabad and Lucknow.
Anand Vihar Terminal serves as Northern Railway's primary launching pad for eastbound passenger traffic heading into Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Its proximity to Ghaziabad, Noida, and East Delhi makes it the most accessible terminal for millions of eastern-bound commuters.
The table below highlights the principal festival special train services operating from Anand Vihar Terminal:
| Train Number | Train Name / Route | Origin Station | Destination Station | Frequency | Coach Composition | Key Halts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 04214 / 04213 | Anand Vihar – Ayodhya Cantt Special | Anand Vihar (ANVT) | Ayodhya Cantt (AYC) | 36 Trips (Oct–Nov) | 2A, 3A, 3E, SL, GS | Hapur, Moradabad, Bareilly, Lucknow |
| 04062 / 04061 | Anand Vihar – Bhagalpur Festive Special | Anand Vihar (ANVT) | Bhagalpur (BGP) | Oct 10 – Nov 25 | 3A, 3E, SL, GS | Kanpur, Pt. DDU, Patna, Kiul, Jamalpur |
| 04078 / 04077 | Anand Vihar – Patna Express Special | Anand Vihar (ANVT) | Patna Jn (PNBE) | Tri-Weekly | 2A, 3A, SL, GS | Aligarh, Kanpur, Prayagraj, Buxar, Danapur |
| 04066 / 04065 | Anand Vihar – Jaynagar Festival Special | Anand Vihar (ANVT) | Jaynagar (JYG) | Bi-Weekly | 3E, SL, GS | Moradabad, Gorakhpur, Chhapra, Darbhanga, Madhubani |
| 04098 / 04097 | Anand Vihar – Muzaffarpur Superfast | Anand Vihar (ANVT) | Muzaffarpur Jn (MFP) | Weekly (Wednesdays) | 3A, 3E, SL, GS | Bareilly, Gorakhpur, Narkatiaganj, Bettiah |
Passengers boarding at Anand Vihar Terminal can take advantage of direct connectivity via the Delhi Metro Blue and Pink Lines, avoiding traffic bottlenecks at New Delhi and Old Delhi stations.
⚡ Quick Seat Search by Route: Check Anand Vihar to Darbhanga Seats • Check Anand Vihar to Bhagalpur Seats • Check Anand Vihar to Patna Seats
What Special Trains Are Operating from New Delhi and Old Delhi to Bihar?
Major festival special trains from New Delhi and Delhi Junction connect to Supaul, Varanasi, Darbhanga, Saharsa, and Danapur to relieve massive holiday demand across central Delhi. Notable services include 04072/04071 New Delhi–Supaul Daily Special, 04210/04209 Delhi–Varanasi Superfast Special, and 04012/04011 New Delhi–Darbhanga Special, operating via Kanpur Central, Prayagraj, and Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Junction.
New Delhi Railway Station (NDLS) and Delhi Junction (DLI) handle the heaviest passenger footfall in the country during the final fortnight of October. To prevent platform stampedes, Northern Railway schedules special departures across staggered afternoon, evening, and late-night departure slots.
The table below lists the prominent festive special trains originating from New Delhi and Delhi Junction:
| Train Number | Train Name / Route | Origin Station | Destination Station | Frequency | Coach Composition | Major Routing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 04072 / 04071 | New Delhi – Supaul Daily Special | New Delhi (NDLS) | Supaul (SOU) | Daily (Oct 1 – Nov 30) | 2A, 3A, 3E, SL, GS | Moradabad, Gorakhpur, Narkatiaganj, Saharsa |
| 04210 / 04209 | Delhi – Varanasi Superfast Special | Delhi Jn (DLI) | Varanasi Jn (BSB) | 50 Trips (Oct 2 – Nov 28) | 2A, 3A, SL, GS | Ghaziabad, Moradabad, Bareilly, Lucknow |
| 04012 / 04011 | New Delhi – Darbhanga Special | New Delhi (NDLS) | Darbhanga Jn (DBG) | 47 Trips (Oct 10 – Nov 25) | 3A, 3E, SL, GS | Bareilly, Gorakhpur, Bettiah, Muzaffarpur, Samastipur |
| 04022 / 04021 | New Delhi – Danapur Express Special | New Delhi (NDLS) | Danapur (DNR) | Tri-Weekly | 3E, SL, GS | Kanpur Central, Prayagraj, Pt. DDU, Buxar, Ara |
| 04052 / 04051 | New Delhi – Saharsa Festival Special | New Delhi (NDLS) | Saharsa Jn (SHC) | Bi-Weekly | 3A, SL, GS | Gorakhpur, Siwan, Chhapra, Muzaffarpur, Khagaria |
For travellers heading to Patna, both Delhi to Patna Train Schedule and festival special stops at Danapur (DNR) and Patliputra (PPTA) provide immediate cab and auto access into western and central Patna without navigating the congested main Patna Junction circulating area.
⚡ Quick Route Search: Search Delhi to Patna Special Trains • Search Delhi to Gorakhpur Special Trains • Search Delhi to Varanasi Special Trains
Which Special Trains Connect Punjab and Chandigarh to Patna and Bihar?
Northern Railway operates dedicated festival specials from Chandigarh, Firozpur Cantt, and Rishikesh to Patna and Muzaffarpur to serve textile, agricultural, and industrial workforces across Punjab and Haryana. Key services include 04512/04511 Chandigarh–Patna Weekly Special, 04616/04615 Firozpur–Patna Special, and 04314/04313 Rishikesh–Muzaffarpur Special, running via Ambala Cantt, Moradabad, Bareilly, Lucknow, and Varanasi.
Hundreds of thousands of workers and students from Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh live across Chandigarh, Ludhiana, Jalandhar, and Amritsar. In previous years, these passengers had to travel to Delhi first to catch connecting trains, causing severe overcrowding at Delhi terminals.
The table below outlines direct festival special trains operating from Punjab, Haryana, and Uttarakhand to Bihar:
| Train Number | Train Name / Route | Origin Station | Destination Station | Frequency | Key Boarding Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 04512 / 04511 | Chandigarh – Patna Weekly Special | Chandigarh (CDG) | Patna Jn (PNBE) | Weekly (Thursdays) | Ambala Cantt, Saharanpur, Moradabad, Bareilly, Varanasi, Buxar, Danapur |
| 04616 / 04615 | Firozpur Cantt – Patna Festival Special | Firozpur Cantt (FZR) | Patna Jn (PNBE) | Weekly (Wednesdays) | Ludhiana, Jalandhar City, Ambala Cantt, Bareilly, Lucknow, Danapur |
| 04314 / 04313 | Yog Nagari Rishikesh – Muzaffarpur Special | YN Rishikesh (YNRK) | Muzaffarpur Jn (MFP) | 36 Trips (Oct–Nov) | Haridwar, Moradabad, Bareilly, Gorakhpur, Narkatiaganj, Bettiah |
| 04534 / 04533 | Amritsar – Saharsa Festival Special | Amritsar Jn (ASR) | Saharsa Jn (SHC) | Weekly (Sundays) | Jalandhar City, Ludhiana, Ambala, Gorakhpur, Chhapra, Samastipur |
These direct trains spare travellers from changing trains at Delhi, offering a single continuous PNR from Punjab directly into northern and central Bihar.
⚡ Quick Seat Search: Check Chandigarh to Patna Seats • Check Ludhiana to Danapur Seats • Check Amritsar to Saharsa Seats
When Does Booking Open for Northern Railway Festival Special Trains?
Booking for Northern Railway festival special trains opens progressively starting late September 2026 at 08:00 AM IST on IRCTC and computerized PRS station counters. Bookings require mandatory Aadhaar OTP authentication on opening day and follow Train on Special Fare (TOSF) tariffs, which apply flat 10% to 30% surcharges over standard passenger fares.
Securing a berth on a festival special requires understanding IRCTC's operational booking regulations:
- Reservation Opening Schedule: Primary special train bookings launched at 08:00 AM IST on designated release dates. Supplementary services continue to be notified on rolling 10 to 30-day booking horizons leading directly into Diwali and Chhath Puja.
- Aadhaar OTP Authentication Mandate: Under Indian Railways directives aimed at curbing automated booking bots, users booking on opening morning must have Aadhaar-verified IRCTC accounts. A one-time password (OTP) is sent to your UIDAI-registered mobile number before checkout completes.
- Train on Special Fare (TOSF) Tariffs: Northern Railway 0-series festival specials carry standard TOSF surcharges:
- Second Sitting (2S): 10% surcharge on base fare.
- Sleeper Class (SL): 30% surcharge on base fare.
- AC Classes (3E, 3A, 2A, 1A): 30% surcharge on base fare.
- Suspension of Concessionary Fares: Concessions (including senior citizen and student quotas) remain suspended on 0-series special trains. Quotas such as Ladies (LD) and Divyangjan apply only when explicitly provisioned in the individual train circular.
How to Book Confirmed Seats on Northern Railway Special Trains When Tickets Are Waitlisted?
When Northern Railway festival specials show waiting list or REGRET status, passengers can find confirmed travel using LastBerth Smart Seats split-ticketing, terminal origin booking with online boarding changes, and post-charting Current Availability. The first chart finalizes roughly 8 hours before departure, releasing unallocated berths for booking until 30 minutes before departure.
Because festive demand from Delhi to Bihar is exceptionally concentrated, even supplementary special rakes can enter WL (Waiting List) or REGRET within hours. If your preferred train shows no direct availability, deploy these proven reservation strategies:
1. Contiguous Split-Ticketing via Smart Seats
Indian Railways partitions coach berths into separate station-to-station quota buckets (GNWL, RLWL, and PQWL). While a single direct seat from New Delhi to Patna may show REGRET, berths frequently remain available from New Delhi to Kanpur Central and from Kanpur Central to Patna on the exact same train rake.
Use Smart Seats to identify contiguous split-journey segments, allowing you to travel comfortably on the same train without switching compartments.
2. Origin Booking with Boarding Station Modification
Intermediate stations draw from smaller pooled quotas that exhaust rapidly. Booking your ticket from the originating terminus (such as New Delhi instead of Ghaziabad, or Anand Vihar instead of Moradabad) unlocks access to the significantly larger General Quota (GNWL).
Under official IRCTC rules, you can change your boarding station online up to the preparation of the second reservation chart, roughly 30 minutes before scheduled train departure.
3. Current Availability (CURR_AVBL) After Chart Preparation
When the first reservation chart finalizes (around 8 hours prior to departure, or at 21:00 (9:00 PM) the prior evening for morning departures), all unallocated VIP, emergency, and pooled quotas convert into Current Availability (CURR_AVBL) at a 10% discount on base fare.
You can track real-time coach vacancy on Chart Vacancy and verify exact charting schedules on Chart Times to grab confirmed seats right up to 30 minutes before departure.
4. Holding Point Bio-Metric Queue for Unreserved Travel
For passengers travelling without reservations, Northern Railway operates designated holding areas outside New Delhi and Anand Vihar stations equipped with bio-metric token dispensers. Unreserved General Second Class (GS) passengers receive queue tokens to ensure orderly, stampede-free boarding onto festival special general coaches.
Going Home for Chhath or Diwali?
Direct trains showing REGRET? Find confirmed festival specials and split-journey contiguous seats.
Common Booking Questions (FAQ)
Are ticket fares higher on Northern Railway festival special trains?
Yes, 0-series festival special trains operate under Train on Special Fare (TOSF) rules, which add a flat 10% surcharge on Second Sitting and a 30% surcharge on Sleeper and AC classes over regular express fares. Standard passenger concession discounts do not apply on these festival specials.
When does booking open for Northern Railway Diwali special trains?
Booking for Northern Railway festival special trains opens progressively starting late September 2026 at 08:00 AM IST on IRCTC and railway PRS reservation counters. Additional special trains are announced and opened on rolling 10 to 30-day schedules leading directly up to Diwali and Chhath Puja.
Can you book Tatkal tickets on Delhi to Bihar festival specials?
Tatkal quota allocation depends on individual train circulars. While select 0-series special trains allocate standard Tatkal quotas opening at 10:00 AM for AC and 11:00 AM for Sleeper one day prior to departure, many festival specials operate exclusively on General Quota. Always check individual train quota availability on IRCTC.
Can you travel on a Northern Railway special train with a waitlisted e-ticket?
No, passengers with fully waitlisted online e-tickets cannot board reserved coaches on festival special trains. Fully waitlisted e-tickets are automatically cancelled and refunded after chart preparation. Boarding without a confirmed ticket incurs a flat ₹500 fine under the Jan Vishwas Act plus excess fare under Section 138.
Can you change your boarding station on a festival special train from Delhi?
Yes, passengers can modify their boarding station online through the IRCTC website or mobile app up to the generation of the second reservation chart, approximately 30 minutes before departure. Always confirm the updated boarding point on your PNR before boarding the train.
Why do festival special trains take longer from Delhi to Patna than regular express trains?
Festival special trains operate on provisional timetables and yield track precedence to regular scheduled priority trains such as Vande Bharat, Rajdhani, and Superfast express services. Passengers should anticipate possible operational delays and maintain adequate travel buffer time.
How do you find vacant berths after chart preparation on Northern Railway trains?
You can check released seats on Chart Vacancy and Smart Seats. Once the first reservation chart finalizes, unsold berths across all quotas convert into Current Availability (CURR_AVBL) and become bookable on IRCTC or at station PRS counters until 30 minutes before departure.
Which stations in Delhi NCR operate festival special trains to Bihar?
Festival special trains to Bihar depart primarily from New Delhi (NDLS), Anand Vihar Terminal (ANVT), Delhi Junction (DLI), and Hazrat Nizamuddin (NZM). Key intermediate boarding junctions across the NCR include Ghaziabad Junction, Faridabad, and Delhi Sarai Rohilla.
Bottom Line
Northern Railway's festival special train services provide critical extra seat capacity for passengers travelling from Delhi NCR and Punjab to Bihar and Uttar Pradesh for Diwali and Chhath Puja 2026. Book your tickets as early as possible on IRCTC. If your target train is waitlisted, use Smart Seats to find confirmed split journeys, check Chart Times for charting notifications, and claim released berths on Chart Vacancy.
LastBerth is an independently operated, registered IRCTC booking agent, not the official IRCTC or Indian Railways website. Assisted bookings are confirmed only once all required PNRs are issued.
Going Home for Chhath or Diwali?
Direct trains showing REGRET? Find confirmed festival specials and split-journey contiguous seats.
Kartik Arora
Railway Travel Expert • 500+ Journeys
Kartik is a passionate Indian Railways traveler who has spent years decoding the complex algorithms behind IRCTC waitlists, Tatkal quotas, and chart preparation. He built LastBerth to help fellow travelers find confirmed tickets when all hope seems lost.
Recommended Reading
Southern Railway Festival Special Trains 2026: Full List
Full list of Southern & SWR festival special trains for Diwali and Chhath 2026 from Bengaluru and Chennai to Bihar, UP & Howrah. Routes, fares & booking.
South Central Railway Festival Special Trains 2026: List
Full list of South Central Railway festival special trains for Diwali & Chhath 2026 from Hyderabad & Charlapalli to Bihar & UP with booking dates & routes.
Western Railway Festival Special Trains 2026: List & Booking
Full list of Western Railway festival special trains for Diwali and Chhath 2026 from Mumbai, Surat, and Ahmedabad to Bihar and UP with booking dates and routes.