Keeping in mind the heavy rush of homebound passengers during Diwali and Chhath Puja, Northern Railway has planned more than 6,200 special train trips for the festive season. According to a Times of India report, 4,666 rounds were conducted last year, while their number has increased by nearly 30% this year. These additional services are aimed at reducing pressure on regular trains, especially on routes connecting Delhi and other northern cities with various destinations in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal. During the festive season, passengers face a lot of difficulty in getting confirmed tickets, as the demand for tickets increases during this time.
More than 6,200 trips are planned
According to a TOI report, the Northern Railway has announced around 3,600 special train trips so far, and is expected to surpass the total of 6,200 trips planned for the festive season. The railway zone has also regularized 42 new trains this year. These services will complete approximately 2,600 trips during the festive season, further strengthening the arrangements made to handle the heavy rush of passengers.
Himanshu Shekhar Upadhyay, Chief Public Relations Officer, Northern Railway, said in a report that special arrangements are being made to ensure that passengers do not face any unnecessary hassles in going home during the festivities. The increase in services is because it is often difficult to get a confirmed seat on popular routes and tickets for special trains get booked up very quickly once they are announced.
Which route will benefit?
Northern Railway operates additional services on routes that connect the national capital and other northern cities with major destinations in eastern India. There is a huge demand for passengers on these routes around Diwali and Chhath Puja, as during this time many people go to their hometowns to celebrate the festival with their families. According to a TOI report, the special train services include these routes:
- Delhipatna Vande India
- Shakurbastidarabhanga
- Mata Vaishno Devi Varanasi
- Chandigarhpatna
- New Delhi Howrah
- of Amritsarbaru
These additional services are expected to offer more travel options on busy routes, although seat availability will vary by train, date and destination.
Security and facilities have been strengthened at the stations
- Along with the increase in train services, Northern Railway has made enhanced arrangements to handle heavy rush of passengers at stations during the festive season.
- Additional ticket counters have been opened and additional staff deployed to assist passengers.
- Security arrangements have also been strengthened to control congestion and improve passenger movement at busy stations.
- The measures are aimed at reducing congestion and helping passengers move easily around stations during the busiest travel times of the year.
Why are special trains important during the festive season?
During Diwali and Chhath Puja, there is a huge surge in the number of rail passengers, especially in passengers traveling from major cities to towns and villages in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and neighboring states. Regular trains are in high demand long before the festivals, forcing many passengers to look for other options. Special trains increase capacity on select routes, while new trains can provide additional travel options beyond the festival rush as they become more regular.
