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.
🔔 Planning festival travel from Mumbai, Surat, or Ahmedabad? Find confirmed seats and smart split routes on high-demand festive corridors:
TL;DR
Western Railway has announced festival special train services for Diwali and Chhath Puja 2026 connecting Mumbai Central, Bandra Terminus, Surat, Udhna, and Ahmedabad to high-demand destinations across Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. Bookings opened on September 28, 2026 at 08:00 AM IST on IRCTC and PRS counters under Train on Special Fare (TOSF) rules with flat 10% to 30% surcharges. If direct trains show REGRET or deep waitlists, use Smart Seats to find confirmed split-journey berths, check Chart Times for charting notifications, and claim vacant berths on Chart Vacancy post-charting.
Which Festival Special Trains Has Western Railway Announced for Diwali and Chhath 2026?
Western Railway has notified special train services for Diwali and Chhath Puja 2026 connecting Mumbai, Surat, Udhna, Vadodara, and Ahmedabad to Bihar and Uttar Pradesh destinations including Patna, Danapur, Gorakhpur, Chhapra, and Subedarganj. These 0-series rakes run throughout October and November 2026, offering AC 2-Tier, AC 3-Tier, 3E Economy, Sleeper, and General unreserved coaches.
Every autumn, millions of workers, traders, and families based in Gujarat and Maharashtra travel home to celebrate Diwali and Chhath Puja. Because regular express trains such as the BDTS–Patna Express, Surat–Chhapra Tapti Ganga Express, and Ahmedabad–Barauni Express exhaust their berths months in advance, Western Railway deploys dedicated 0-series Trains on Demand (TOD).
Western Railway (WR) festival special operations focus on these major traffic corridors:
- Surat & Udhna Industrial Hub to Bihar: Direct special trains originating from Surat (ST) and Udhna Junction (UDN) connecting directly to Patna, Danapur, Chhapra, and Barauni to serve textile and diamond industry workers.
- Mumbai Terminals to Eastern UP & Bihar: High-capacity express rakes departing Mumbai Central (MMCT) and Bandra Terminus (BDTS) for Danapur, Gorakhpur, Subedarganj (Prayagraj), and Bhagalpur.
- Gujarat Outbound Corridors: Scheduled festive services from Ahmedabad Junction (ADI) and Sabarmati to Danapur, Muzaffarpur, and Barauni via Ratlam and Kota.
- Dedicated Unreserved and Mixed Rakes: Train compositions featuring general second-class coaches alongside AC and Sleeper accommodation to serve travellers across all budget levels.
These festival services carry special 0-series identifiers, meaning they operate on custom timetables scheduled around regular railway traffic.
What Are the Top Special Trains from Surat and Udhna to Bihar and Uttar Pradesh?
Top Western Railway special trains from Surat and Udhna run to Patna, Danapur, and Chhapra to clear heavy Diwali and Chhath rush from South Gujarat. Flagship services include 09045/09046 Udhna–Patna Superfast Special, 09033/09034 Udhna–Danapur Special, and 09065/09066 Surat–Chhapra Express Special, operating with AC 3-Tier, 3E Economy, Sleeper, and General coaches via Bhusaval and Jabalpur.
Surat and Udhna represent the busiest originating cluster for eastern-bound festive travel in Western India. Regular services on the Tapti Ganga route become completely booked within minutes of opening.
The table below details the primary festival special services operating from Surat and Udhna to Bihar and Uttar Pradesh:
| Train Number | Train Name / Route | Origin Station | Destination Station | Frequency | Coach Composition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 09045 / 09046 | Udhna – Patna Superfast Special | Udhna Jn (UDN) | Patna Jn (PNBE) | Weekly (Fridays) | 2A, 3A, 3E, SL, GS |
| 09033 / 09034 | Udhna – Danapur Express Special | Udhna Jn (UDN) | Danapur (DNR) | Bi-Weekly (Mon, Wed) | 3A, 3E, SL, GS |
| 09065 / 09066 | Surat – Chhapra Express Special | Surat (ST) | Chhapra Jn (CPR) | Weekly (Mondays) | 2A, 3A, SL, GS |
| 09015 / 09016 | Udhna – Malda Town Special | Udhna Jn (UDN) | Malda Town (MLDT) | Weekly (Thursdays) | 3A, SL, GS |
| 09069 / 09070 | Surat – Subedarganj Special | Surat (ST) | Subedarganj (SFG) | Weekly (Fridays) | 3E, SL, GS |
These trains run via Nandurbar, Jalgaon, Bhusaval, Khandwa, Itarsi, Jabalpur, Katni, Satna, Manikpur, and Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya (DDU) Junction. Passengers can board at major intermediate junctions across Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh.
⚡ Quick Seat Search by Route: Check Surat to Patna Seats • Check Udhna to Danapur Seats • Check Surat to Chhapra Seats
What Special Trains Are Operating from Mumbai Central and Bandra Terminus to UP and Bihar?
Major festival special trains from Mumbai Central and Bandra Terminus operate to Danapur, Gorakhpur, Subedarganj, and Bhagalpur to accommodate peak festive traffic heading towards North and East India. Key trains include 09025/09026 Bandra–Danapur Superfast Special, 09011/09012 Bandra–Gorakhpur Special, 09017/09018 Mumbai Central–Subedarganj Special, and 09093/09094 Mumbai Central–Bhagalpur Special, operating via Kota and Ratlam.
Passengers departing from the Mumbai metropolitan region can board Western Railway specials from either Mumbai Central or Bandra Terminus, bypassing congested Central Railway routes through Kalyan and Bhusaval.
The table below highlights the primary Mumbai-originating special trains for Diwali and Chhath 2026:
| Train Number | Train Name / Route | Origin Station | Destination Station | Frequency | Routing & Key Halts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 09025 / 09026 | Bandra – Danapur Superfast Special | Bandra Terminus (BDTS) | Danapur (DNR) | Weekly (Mondays) | Borivali, Surat, Vadodara, Ratlam, Kota, Pt. DDU |
| 09011 / 09012 | Bandra – Gorakhpur Festive Special | Bandra Terminus (BDTS) | Gorakhpur Jn (GKP) | Weekly (Thursdays) | Borivali, Vapi, Surat, Kota, Bharatpur, Mathura, Lucknow |
| 09017 / 09018 | Mumbai Central – Subedarganj Special | Mumbai Central (MMCT) | Subedarganj (SFG) | Bi-Weekly (Tue, Sat) | Borivali, Surat, Vadodara, Kota, Agra Fort, Kanpur |
| 09093 / 09094 | Mumbai Central – Bhagalpur Special | Mumbai Central (MMCT) | Bhagalpur (BGP) | Weekly (Wednesdays) | Borivali, Surat, Ratlam, Kota, Kanpur, Pt. DDU, Jamalpur |
| 09041 / 09042 | Bandra – Mau Superfast Special | Bandra Terminus (BDTS) | Mau Jn (MAU) | Bi-Weekly (Sun, Wed) | Borivali, Surat, Vadodara, Kota, Shamshabad, Varanasi |
Travellers staying in western suburbs like Andheri, Borivali, or Virar can use Borivali as their convenient boarding station instead of travelling down to Bandra Terminus or Mumbai Central.
⚡ Quick Route Search: Search Mumbai to Danapur Special Trains • Search Bandra to Gorakhpur Trains • Search Mumbai to Varanasi Trains
Which Western Railway Special Trains Run from Ahmedabad and Gujarat to Bihar?
Western Railway operates key festival special services from Ahmedabad Junction and Sabarmati to Danapur, Muzaffarpur, and Barauni to meet high festive demand across central Gujarat. Prominent services include 09417/09418 Ahmedabad–Danapur Special, 09483/09484 Ahmedabad–Barauni Express Special, and 09421/09422 Sabarmati–Sitamarhi Special, running via Chhayapuri, Ratlam, Kota, and Kanpur Central.
Ahmedabad, along with Anand, Nadiad, and Vadodara, houses a substantial population of residents originating from eastern Uttar Pradesh and North Bihar. During Chhath and Diwali, direct train berths become unavailable weeks ahead of travel.
The table below lists the primary festival special trains running from Ahmedabad and central Gujarat:
| Train Number | Train Name / Route | Origin Station | Destination Station | Frequency | Coach Composition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 09417 / 09418 | Ahmedabad – Danapur Special | Ahmedabad Jn (ADI) | Danapur (DNR) | Weekly (Mondays) | 2A, 3A, SL, GS |
| 09483 / 09484 | Ahmedabad – Barauni Special | Ahmedabad Jn (ADI) | Barauni Jn (BJU) | Tri-Weekly | 3A, 3E, SL, GS |
| 09421 / 09422 | Sabarmati – Sitamarhi Special | Sabarmati (SBT) | Sitamarhi (SMI) | Weekly (Saturdays) | 3E, SL, GS |
| 09405 / 09406 | Ahmedabad – Patna Superfast Special | Ahmedabad Jn (ADI) | Patna Jn (PNBE) | Weekly (Tuesdays) | 2A, 3A, 3E, SL, GS |
These Ahmedabad specials pick up passengers at Nadiad, Anand, Chhayapuri (Vadodara), Godhra, Dahod, and Ratlam, providing vital rail connections for travellers throughout central Gujarat.
⚡ Quick Seat Search: Check Ahmedabad to Danapur Seats • Check Ahmedabad to Patna Seats • Check Ahmedabad to Barauni Seats
When Does Booking Open for Western Railway Festival Special Trains?
Ticket booking for Western Railway festival special trains opens progressively starting September 28, 2026 at 08:00 AM IST on IRCTC and computerized PRS counters. Reservations require mandatory Aadhaar OTP authentication on opening day for general bookings and follow Train on Special Fare (TOSF) pricing, which includes flat 10% to 30% surcharges over regular fares.
Navigating the booking schedule correctly is essential for securing confirmed berths before quotas are exhausted:
- Reservation Opening Windows: Primary special train bookings opened on September 28, 2026 at 08:00 AM IST. Online bookings on the IRCTC web portal and Rail Connect mobile app launch simultaneously with physical PRS counter windows at stations.
- Aadhaar OTP Authentication Requirement: Under Indian Railways anti-bot security directives, users booking on opening morning must have Aadhaar-verified IRCTC profiles. The system sends an OTP to your UIDAI-registered mobile number before finalizing checkout.
- Train on Special Fare (TOSF) Tariffs: Western Railway festival specials operate under TOSF guidelines with the following fixed 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.
- Concession Suspension: Concessionary tickets (including senior citizen and student concessions) do not apply to 0-series festival special trains. Quotas such as Ladies (LD) and Divyangjan operate only where specifically allocated in the rake circular.
How to Book Confirmed Seats on Festival Special Trains When Tickets Are Waitlisted?
When Western Railway festival special trains enter waiting list or REGRET status, passengers can secure confirmed travel using LastBerth Smart Seats split-ticketing, terminal origin booking with online boarding modifications, and post-charting Current Availability. The first reservation chart prepares roughly 8 hours before departure, opening unallocated berths for booking until 30 minutes before train departure.
Even supplementary special trains can exhaust their reservation quotas quickly. If your target train displays WL (Waiting List) or REGRET, use these proven booking strategies to secure your seat:
1. Contiguous Split-Ticketing via Smart Seats
Indian Railways allocates berths across separate quota pools for different origin-destination pairs on the same train (GNWL, RLWL, and PQWL). While a direct seat from Surat to Danapur may show REGRET, berths often remain open from Surat to Itarsi and from Itarsi to Danapur on the identical train rake.
Use Smart Seats to identify contiguous split-segment seats, allowing you to complete your journey on the same train without shifting coaches.
2. Booking from Terminus with Boarding Point Modification
Intermediate stations draw from smaller pooled quotas that fill up fast. Booking from the originating terminal (such as Bandra Terminus instead of Surat, or Udhna instead of Nandurbar) grants access to the larger General Quota (GNWL).
Under railway rules, you can change your boarding station online on IRCTC up to the preparation of the second reservation chart, approximately 30 minutes before train departure.
3. Current Availability (CURR_AVBL) After Chart Preparation
When the first reservation chart finalizes (around 8 hours before departure, or at 21:00 (9:00 PM) the prior night for morning departures), unallocated VIP, emergency, and foreign tourist quotas are released into Current Availability (CURR_AVBL) at a 10% discount on base fare.
You can monitor real-time berth vacancy on Chart Vacancy and check charting schedules on Chart Times to reserve confirmed berths up to 30 minutes before departure.
4. General Second Class (GS) Bio-Metric Queue
For completely waitlisted travellers, select Western Railway festival specials include 4 to 6 unreserved General Second Class (GS) coaches. At major hubs like Surat and Udhna, railways administer a bio-metric token queue system to prevent platform overcrowding, ensuring orderly boarding for unreserved ticket holders.
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 Western Railway festival special trains?
Yes, 0-series festival special trains operate under Train on Special Fare (TOSF) tariffs, which add a flat 10% surcharge on Second Sitting and a 30% surcharge on Sleeper and AC classes over regular express base fares. Standard concession discounts do not apply on these festival specials.
When does booking open for Western Railway Diwali special trains?
Booking for Western Railway festival special trains opens on September 28, 2026 at 08:00 AM IST on IRCTC and railway station PRS counters. Additional supplementary rakes are notified and opened on rolling 10 to 30-day schedules leading up to Diwali and Chhath Puja.
Can you book Tatkal tickets on Western Railway festival specials?
Tatkal quota allocation depends on individual train circulars. While certain 0-series special trains provide standard Tatkal quotas opening at 10:00 AM for AC and 11:00 AM for Sleeper one day prior to departure, many festival specials run entirely on General Quota. Check quota availability on IRCTC.
Can you travel on a special train with a waitlisted e-ticket?
No, passengers with fully waitlisted online e-tickets cannot board reserved coaches on festival special trains. Waitlisted e-tickets are automatically cancelled and refunded after chart preparation. Boarding without a confirmed ticket attracts 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?
Yes, passengers can modify their boarding station online through the IRCTC website or app up to the generation of the second reservation chart, roughly 30 minutes prior to departure. Always confirm the updated boarding point on your PNR before boarding the train.
Why do special trains take longer to reach Bihar than regular trains?
Festival special trains run on provisional timetables and yield track precedence to regular priority services like Vande Bharat, Rajdhani, and Superfast express trains. Passengers should anticipate possible operational delays and schedule sufficient travel buffer time.
How do you find vacant berths after chart preparation on Western Railway?
You can inspect released seats on Chart Vacancy and Smart Seats. Once the first reservation chart is generated, unsold berths across all quotas convert into Current Availability (CURR_AVBL) and can be booked on IRCTC or at station PRS counters until 30 minutes before departure.
Which stations in Gujarat offer festival special trains to Bihar?
Festival special trains to Bihar depart primarily from Surat, Udhna Junction, Ahmedabad Junction, Sabarmati, Vadodara Junction, and Chhayapuri. Major intermediate boarding points across Gujarat include Vapi, Valsad, Bharuch, Anand, Nadiad, and Godhra.
Bottom Line
Western Railway's festival special train services provide vital travel capacity for passengers journeying from Mumbai, Surat, and Ahmedabad to Bihar and Uttar Pradesh for Diwali and Chhath Puja 2026. Book your tickets early starting September 28, 2026 at 08:00 AM IST on IRCTC. If your train enters a waiting list, 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.
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