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.
Travelling home from South India for Durga Puja, Diwali, or Chhath 2026? Check confirmed seats across Southern & South Western Railway special corridors on LastBerth:
TL;DR
Southern Railway and South Western Railway are running dozens of 0-series festival special train services for Durga Puja, Diwali, and Chhath Puja 2026 connecting Bengaluru, Chennai, and Coimbatore with Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, and Assam. These trains operate between October 1 and November 30, 2026, under Train on Special Fare (TOSF) pricing with a 10% surcharge on Second Sitting (2S) and 30% on Sleeper and AC classes. Many services originate from satellite terminals like SMVT Bengaluru and Tambaram to reduce city congestion. When regular trains show REGRET or deep waitlists, Finding Smart Seats discovers confirmed contiguous berths on the same train, while Chart Vacancy maps unsold berths released roughly eight hours before departure.
Which Festival Special Trains Has Southern Railway Announced for 2026?
Southern Railway and South Western Railway have notified dozens of 0-series festival special train services for Durga Puja, Diwali, and Chhath Puja 2026, originating from Bengaluru (SMVT, SBC, YPR), Chennai (MAS, TBM), and Coimbatore. These trains connect South India to Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, and Assam from October through November 2026.
The technology hubs of Bengaluru and the industrial and healthcare centers of Chennai and Coimbatore house hundreds of thousands of professionals, students, and migrant workers from Eastern and Northern India. During the festive months of October and November, regular express trains on these trunk corridors reach capacity months ahead of travel dates. Flagship trains like the Sanghamitra Express, Bagmati Express, Coromandel Express, and Howrah Mail routinely display REGRET or waiting lists exceeding 250.
To absorb this peak passenger surge, Southern Railway (SR) and South Western Railway (SWR) deploy dedicated 0-series rakes across key national corridors:
- Bengaluru to Bihar & Eastern UP: High-capacity special runs connecting SMVT Bengaluru and Yesvantpur with Danapur, Patna, Gorakhpur, and Kanpur Central.
- Chennai & Tamil Nadu to Bihar & Jharkhand: Special express trains linking Tambaram and Podanur (Coimbatore) with Barauni, Dhanbad, and Gaya.
- Southern Trunk to West Bengal & Northeast: High-speed special services connecting SMVT Bengaluru and Chennai Central with Howrah, Santragachi, and New Tinsukia (Assam).
- Inter-City Festive Shuttles: Extra services linking Bengaluru, Chennai, and Coimbatore with regional holiday destinations and major pilgrim centers.
These festival specials carry 0-series train numbers (such as 06021, 06563, and 04132) and feature balanced compositions of AC 2-Tier (2A), AC 3-Tier (3A), AC 3-Tier Economy (3E), Sleeper Class (SL), and unreserved General Second Class (GS) coaches.
What Are the Key Bengaluru Special Trains to Bihar, UP, and Kolkata?
Top South Western Railway festival specials from Bengaluru include the 06217/06218 Bengaluru–Danapur Special, 06563/06564 SMVT Bengaluru–Howrah Special, 04131/04132 Kanpur–SMVT Bengaluru Special, and the 06545/06546 Yesvantpur–Gorakhpur Special, serving long-distance commuters across North and East India.
Regular trains from Bengaluru to Bihar and Uttar Pradesh are among the most congested routes on the entire Indian Railways network. The daily 12295 Sanghamitra Express to Danapur frequently closes bookings weeks before Diwali and Chhath. SWR's festival specials provide hundreds of extra berths on these high-demand routes.
The table below details prominent festival special trains originating from Bengaluru:
| Train Number | Train Name / Corridor | Origin Terminal | Destination Station | Frequency | Coach Composition & Halts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 06217 / 06218 | Bengaluru – Danapur Festival Special | SMVT Bengaluru (SMVT) | Danapur Jn (DNR) | Weekly | Katpadi, Vijayawada, Warangal, Nagpur, Itarsi, Jabalpur, Pt. DD Upadhyaya, Danapur (2A, 3A, 3E, SL, GS) |
| 06563 / 06564 | SMVT Bengaluru – Howrah Special | SMVT Bengaluru (SMVT) | Howrah Jn (HWH) | Weekly (Fridays) | Jolarpettai, Katpadi, Renigunta, Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam, Cuttack, Kharagpur (3A, SL, GS) |
| 04131 / 04132 | Kanpur Central – SMVT Bengaluru Special | SMVT Bengaluru (SMVT) | Kanpur Central (CNB) | Weekly (Wednesdays) | Jolarpettai, Katpadi, Vijayawada, Balharshah, Nagpur, Bhopal, VGL Jhansi (2A, 3A, SL, GS) |
| 06545 / 06546 | Yesvantpur – Gorakhpur Special | Yesvantpur (YPR) | Gorakhpur Jn (GKP) | Weekly | Dharmavaram, Guntakal, Secunderabad, Nagpur, Bhopal, VGL Jhansi, Kanpur, Lucknow, Basti (2A, 3A, SL, GS) |
| 05951 / 05952 | SMVT Bengaluru – New Tinsukia Special | SMVT Bengaluru (SMVT) | New Tinsukia (NTSK) | Weekly | Katpadi, Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam, Kharagpur, Malda Town, New Jalpaiguri, Guwahati (2A, 3A, SL, GS) |
What Are the Popular Chennai and Tamil Nadu Festival Special Trains?
Prominent Southern Railway festival specials from Tamil Nadu include the 06055/06056 Tambaram–Barauni Special, 06021/06022 Podanur (Coimbatore)–Barauni Special, and the 06059/06060 Chennai Central–Santragachi AC Special, connecting industrial hubs with Bihar and West Bengal.
Chennai and Western Tamil Nadu host large working populations from Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, and West Bengal. Corridors like Chennai to Kolkata and Chennai to Patna experience heavy festival rush. Southern Railway's special services help ease passenger traffic on the Coromandel Express, Dhanbad Alleppey Express, and Ganga Kaveri Express.
The table below outlines key festival special trains operating from Chennai and Tamil Nadu:
| Train Number | Train Name / Corridor | Origin Station | Destination Station | Frequency | Key Stops & Booking Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 06055 / 06056 | Tambaram – Barauni Festival Special | Tambaram (TBM) | Barauni Jn (BJU) | Weekly | Chennai Egmore, Gudur, Vijayawada, Rajahmundry, Visakhapatnam, Sambalpur, Rourkela, Ranchi, Bokaro, Kiul • Check Seats |
| 06021 / 06022 | Podanur – Barauni Festival Special | Podanur Jn (PTJ) | Barauni Jn (BJU) | Weekly | Erode, Salem, Jolarpettai, Katpadi, Renigunta, Vijayawada, Warangal, Balharshah, Nagpur, Jabalpur, Prayagraj Chheoki, Pt. DD Upadhyaya, Buxar, Danapur • Check Seats |
| 06059 / 06060 | Chennai Central – Santragachi AC Special | Chennai Central (MAS) | Santragachi Jn (SRC) | Weekly | Gudur, Nellore, Ongole, Vijayawada, Rajahmundry, Visakhapatnam, Cuttack, Balasore, Kharagpur • Check Seats |
| 06037 / 06038 | Chennai Central – Santragachi Special | Chennai Central (MAS) | Santragachi Jn (SRC) | Weekly | Sullurupeta, Nayudupeta, Gudur, Vijayawada, Samalkot, Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram, Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Kharagpur (2A, 3A, SL, GS) |
| 06085 / 06086 | Ernakulam – Patna Festival Special | Ernakulam Jn (ERS) | Patna Jn (PNBE) | Weekly | Coimbatore, Erode, Salem, Jolarpettai, Katpadi, Renigunta, Vijayawada, Warangal, Balharshah, Nagpur, Itarsi, Jabalpur, Pt. DD Upadhyaya, Danapur • Check Seats |
Why Are Bengaluru and Chennai Specials Operating from SMVT and Tambaram?
Indian Railways operates festival special trains from satellite terminals like SMVT Bengaluru (Baiyappanahalli) and Tambaram (Chennai) to bypass severe track congestion, platform bottlenecks, and maintenance delays at central heritage stations like KSR Bengaluru City (SBC) and MGR Chennai Central (MAS).
KSR Bengaluru City (SBC) and MGR Chennai Central (MAS) operate at over 150% of their intended terminal capacity. Adding dozens of extra 22-coach special rakes during festival weeks would cause severe line delays for existing premium trains.
Satellite terminals solve these operational bottlenecks:
- Sir M. Visvesvaraya Terminal (SMVT Bengaluru, Code:
SMVT): Built as an air-conditioned airport-style terminal in Baiyappanahalli, SMVT features dedicated pit lines, modern automated coaching maintenance facilities, and 7 high-capacity platforms. Most East- and North-bound specials (Howrah, Guwahati, Danapur, New Tinsukia) terminate here. - Tambaram Terminal (Chennai, Code:
TBM): Situated 27 km south of Chennai Central on the Grand Southern Trunk Road, Tambaram acts as the primary third terminal for Southern Railway. Routing long-distance festival specials through Tambaram lets trains bypass the congested Chennai Central yard while connecting passengers from Chengalpattu, Kanchipuram, and South Chennai directly. - Traveler Tip: Always verify your boarding terminal code on your e-ticket. Missing a train because you went to SBC instead of SMVT, or MAS instead of TBM, is one of the most common mistakes festive commuters make.
How Are Fares Calculated on Southern & SWR 0-Series Festival Specials?
Fares on Southern Railway and SWR 0-series festival special trains follow Trains on Special Fares (TOSF) guidelines, applying a flat 10% surcharge on Second Sitting (2S) and a 30% surcharge on Sleeper and all AC classes (3E, 3A, 2A, 1A) above regular express fares.
Because running seasonal special trains requires positioning empty rakes across thousands of kilometers, deploying relief train crews, and operating on temporary timetables, Indian Railways charges a standard special fare surcharge. This surcharge mirrors Tatkal minimum and maximum caps, adding roughly ₹100 to ₹200 for a Sleeper berth and ₹300 to ₹400 for a 3AC berth.
The table below details the fare structure and conditions for 0-series special trains:
| Travel Class | Special Surcharge Rate | Minimum Surcharge Cap | Maximum Surcharge Cap | Concession Eligibility | Linen & Bedroll Inclusions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Second Sitting (2S) | 10% of Base Fare | ₹10 | ₹15 | No Concessions (₹0) | Not Provided |
| Sleeper Class (SL) | 30% of Base Fare | ₹100 | ₹200 | No Concessions (₹0) | Not Provided |
| AC 3-Tier Economy (3E) | 30% of Base Fare | ₹250 | ₹350 | No Concessions (₹0) | Complete Bedroll Included |
| AC 3-Tier (3A) | 30% of Base Fare | ₹300 | ₹400 | No Concessions (₹0) | Complete Bedroll Included |
| AC 2-Tier (2A) | 30% of Base Fare | ₹400 | ₹500 | No Concessions (₹0) | Complete Bedroll Included |
| AC First Class (1A) | 30% of Base Fare | ₹400 | ₹500 | No Concessions (₹0) | Complete Bedroll Included |
Important fare conditions to keep in mind:
- No Concession Discounts: Concessions for senior citizens, students, and other categories do not apply on festival special trains.
- Fixed Pricing Model: Unlike Suvidha trains with dynamic pricing slabs that increase fares up to 3x base rates, 0-series TOSF specials use a fixed 10% to 30% surcharge.
- Linen Inclusions: All AC classes (3E, 3A, 2A, 1A) include two bedsheets, a pillow, a blanket, and a face towel at no extra charge. Sleeper class does not include linen.
What Are the Tatkal and Cancellation Refund Rules for Southern Specials?
Tatkal quota on notified Southern Railway special trains opens at 10:00 AM IST for AC classes and 11:00 AM IST for Sleeper class one day before departure from originating stations, while fully waitlisted online e-tickets receive an automatic 100% refund with zero clerkage fee.
Tatkal Rules on 0-Series Specials
- Tatkal quotas apply only to specific festival specials notified by Zonal Railways.
- When enabled, bookings open at 10:00 AM IST for AC coaches (3A, 2A, 3E) and 11:00 AM IST for Sleeper class, exactly one day before departure from the originating station.
- Aadhaar Verification: Booking tickets during the peak morning window on IRCTC requires an Aadhaar-verified profile with pre-added Master List passengers.
Cancellation & Refund Policy
Cancellation fees for confirmed tickets on festival specials follow standard Indian Railways commercial rules:
| Cancellation Timing (Before Train Departure) | Cancellation Deduction Amount |
|---|---|
| More than 48 hours | Flat cancellation fee: ₹240 (1A/EC), ₹200 (2A), ₹180 (3A/3E/CC), ₹120 (SL), ₹60 (2S) |
| Between 48 hours and 12 hours | 25% of total ticket fare (subject to minimum flat fee per passenger) |
| Between 12 hours and 4 hours (or before 1st chart prep) | 50% of total ticket fare (subject to minimum flat fee per passenger) |
| Less than 4 hours / After chart preparation | Zero refund (100% fare forfeited) |
| Waitlisted E-Ticket Dropped Post-Charting | 100% Full Refund credited automatically with zero clerkage fee |
| Train Cancelled by Railways | 100% Full Refund credited automatically without filing a TDR |
| Train Delayed Over 3 Hours | 100% Full Refund by filing an online TDR before train leaves boarding station |
Under Section 138 of the Railways Act (as amended by the Jan Vishwas Act), passengers holding fully waitlisted online e-tickets cannot board reserved coaches. Doing so incurs a flat ₹500 penalty plus single journey fare, followed by deboarding at the next station.
How Can You Get Confirmed Tickets When Bengaluru and Chennai Trains Show Regret?
When southern festival trains show Regret or heavy waitlists, passengers can secure confirmed berths by booking split-segment journeys on LastBerth, booking from originating stations with boarding point changes, or booking post-charting Current Availability.
Waiting lists progress through a defined order: WL (Waiting List full form) → RAC (Reservation Against Cancellation) → Confirmed. General Waiting List (GNWL) tickets have higher confirmation chances than Pooled Quota (PQWL) or Remote Location (RLWL). When all quotas fill, trains enter REGRET status, closing further reservations.
Here are four practical strategies to secure confirmed travel:
1. Split-Segment Smart Seats
Indian Railways allocates reserved seats in fixed station quotas. While a direct ticket from Bengaluru to Danapur might show REGRET, seats may be open from SMVT Bengaluru to Vijayawada and Vijayawada to Danapur on the exact same train.
Use Finding Smart Seats on LastBerth to search contiguous confirmed segments along your route, letting you travel on a single train without changing rakes.
2. Origin Station Booking with 30-Minute Boarding Modification
Intermediate station quotas (RLWL) are limited and fill up quickly. Originating stations receive the largest GNWL pool. You can book from SMVT Bengaluru or Chennai Central to your destination, and then update your boarding point online on IRCTC up to the preparation of the second reservation chart (~30 minutes before departure).
3. Track Chart Preparation Schedules & Alerts
First reservation charts are finalized roughly 8 hours before departure (or 9:00 PM (21:00) the previous evening for morning trains departing before 2:00 PM). Use Chart Times to check historical chart finalization schedules for your train and configure free alerts to know the moment charts release.
4. Check Vacant Berths on Chart Vacancy Map
Once charts are prepared, unallocated VIP berths, emergency quotas, and cancelled seats convert into Current Availability (CURR_AVBL) at a 10% discount. Check the Chart Vacancy Map to inspect coach layouts and book confirmed berths online up to 30 minutes before train departure. To check vacant berths during a running journey, use Seat Status.
Going Home for Chhath or Diwali?
Direct trains showing REGRET? Find confirmed festival specials and split-journey contiguous seats.
Common Booking Questions (FAQ)
When does booking open for Southern Railway festival special trains?
Booking for regular express trains opens 60 days in advance at 8:00 AM IST, while Southern Railway and SWR 0-series festival special trains open on rolling schedules of 10 to 30 days before departure once Zonal Railway notifications are issued.
Are ticket fares on Bengaluru and Chennai festival specials higher than normal trains?
Yes, 0-series festival specials operate under Trains on Special Fares (TOSF) rules, carrying a flat 10% surcharge on Second Sitting (2S) and a 30% surcharge on Sleeper and AC classes compared to regular express base fares.
Does Tatkal booking exist on Southern Railway festival special trains?
Tatkal quota is available only on specific special trains notified by Southern Railway and SWR. When enabled, it opens at 10:00 AM IST for AC classes and 11:00 AM IST for Sleeper class one day prior to departure from the originating station.
What happens if my festival special e-ticket remains waitlisted after charting?
If your e-ticket remains on the waiting list after final chart preparation, IRCTC cancels it automatically and issues a 100% full refund to your original payment account with zero clerkage fee deductions.
Can I board Sleeper or AC coaches on a waitlisted festival special e-ticket?
No, boarding a reserved Sleeper or AC coach on a waitlisted e-ticket is strictly prohibited. Passengers caught travelling without a confirmed seat face a ₹500 fine under Section 138 of the Railways Act plus single journey fare, and will be deboarded.
How do I reach SMVT Bengaluru station for my festival special train?
SMVT Bengaluru is located in Baiyappanahalli. Commuters can reach it via the Namma Metro Purple Line (Baiyappanahalli or Swami Vivekananda Road stations), followed by a short feeder bus or auto ride directly to the terminal.
How many tickets can I book on IRCTC in one month for festival travel?
Standard unverified IRCTC accounts can book up to 12 tickets per calendar month. Linking and verifying your Aadhaar on your IRCTC profile increases this limit to 24 tickets per month, provided at least one passenger on tickets 13 to 24 is Aadhaar-verified.
Can I change my boarding station on a festival special train ticket?
Yes, Indian Railways allows passengers to change their boarding station online through the IRCTC portal up to the preparation of the second reservation chart, approximately 30 to 60 minutes before scheduled train departure.
What is the difference between GNWL and PQWL on Bengaluru to Patna trains?
GNWL (General Waiting List) applies to passengers boarding at the originating station (SMVT or SBC) and offers the highest confirmation probability. PQWL (Pooled Quota Waiting List) applies to intermediate journey segments and clears much slower because it draws from a smaller seat pool.
How can I get a confirmed ticket if all Bengaluru to Danapur trains show Regret?
When direct trains show Regret, use Finding Smart Seats on LastBerth to discover split-ticket options across intermediate stations like Vijayawada, Warangal, or Jabalpur on the exact same train.
Bottom line
Southern Railway and South Western Railway festival special trains provide an essential travel lifeline for Diwali and Chhath Puja 2026. If regular trains like the Sanghamitra Express or Bagmati Express are fully booked or marked REGRET, monitor newly notified 0-series specials, set up preparation alerts on Chart Times, review post-charting seats on Chart Vacancy, and use Finding Smart Seats to secure confirmed split journeys.
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.
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