Railways to run special trains for Durga Puja rush to Bengal
Eastern Railway plans special trains to West Bengal amid high demand during Durga Puja. Reservation offices in Kolkata area will adjust hours, with waitlists already indicating heavy booking.
Key takeaways
- Eastern Railway will operate additional special trains to West Bengal ahead of Durga Puja to manage rising passenger demand.
- Durga Puja 2026 runs from October 16 to October 21, with large travel peaks expected around these dates.
- Reservation offices in Kolkata/Howrah will run a single shift (8 am–2 pm) on October 19–21; other counters remain open.
- Numerous trains across Delhi-Howrah, Mumbai-Howrah, Chennai-Howrah, and Guwahati-Howrah corridors show high waitlists or REGRET statuses for October 16 bookings.
What Happened
Indian Railways, through Eastern Railway, announced plans to operate additional special trains on routes to West Bengal in anticipation of elevated passenger demand during the Durga Puja period. The festival is slated to occur from October 16 to October 21, 2026, and authorities expect many travelers to return to their hometowns in Bengal for celebrations. In response, routes with historically higher passenger volumes during Puja will see these extra services, while normal trains continue to operate as usual.
Shivram Majhi, Chief Public Relations Officer of Eastern Railway, confirmed the plan to Indianexpress.com, noting that the trains will be placed on routes currently exhibiting higher demand during the holidays. In addition, reservation offices in the Kolkata and Howrah area will shift to a single 8 am–2 pm shift on October 19, 20 and 21, with booking counters at Howrah, Sealdah and Kolkata Terminal remaining open as usual on those days.
Separate reports about booking status show widespread overcrowding across several popular routes. Specifically, on the Delhi-Howrah corridor, multiple trains display high waitlists or REGRET states for October 16 bookings, including the 12306 Kolkata Rajdhani and the 12314 Sealdah Rajdhani. Similar patterns are noted on the Mumbai-Howrah, Chennai-Howrah, and Guwahati-Howrah routes, with many trains reporting waitlists above 100 in various classes or REGRET statuses.
Why It Matters
The plan aims to accommodate a surge in travelers during a major cultural festival, reducing crowding on regular services and offering more reservation options. The scale of waitlists across several long-distance services indicates a strong demand spike that could affect travel plans and punctuality around the Puja period.
Background
Durga Puja is a key festival during which a large number of people travel to Bengal to celebrate with family. The festival schedule for 2026 runs from October 16 to October 21, shaping travel demand in the weeks leading up to and during the celebration.
Key Facts
- Festival dates: October 16–21, 2026.
- Eastern Railway plans special trains on routes to West Bengal to handle expected demand.
- Reservation offices in Kolkata/Howrah areas will operate a single shift from 8 am to 2 pm on October 19–21; other counters stay open as usual.
- Multiple trains show high waitlists or REGRET statuses for October 16 bookings on major corridors (Delhi-Howrah, Mumbai-Howrah, Chennai-Howrah, Guwahati-Howrah).
What Happens Next
The newly announced special services are intended to supplement existing schedules and provide more travel options during Puja. The revised reservation office timings are in effect for the peak days of October 19–21, and rail users are advised to monitor waitlist statuses as the festival approaches.
Sources reviewed
Project Chintan independently synthesized and analyzed information cross-checked across the sources listed above.
