NEW DELHI | October 18, 2026
Indian Railways has announced four pairs of special trains to help passengers travelling during the Diwali and Chhath Puja festive season, offering additional connections between Maharashtra, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha and Delhi. The services are intended to ease pressure on regular trains as demand for confirmed tickets rises during the annual holiday rush.
The announced services include two weekly Pune–Muzaffarpur trains, a twice-weekly Lokmanya Tilak Terminus–Ayodhya Cantt special and a festival special connecting Khurda Road in Odisha with Anand Vihar Terminal in Delhi.
The additional trains will serve migrant workers, families and other passengers travelling home for the festivals. They will also connect several important stations across central and eastern India, including Itarsi, Jabalpur, Prayagraj, Varanasi region, Patna region and other major railway junctions.
Passengers should check the latest railway timetable and seat availability before travelling, as special-train schedules, halts and operating dates can change.
1. Pune–Muzaffarpur Special Train: 01481/01482
The first Pune–Muzaffarpur service is intended to help passengers travelling from Maharashtra to north Bihar, including Muzaffarpur, Hajipur and Pataliputra.
Train schedule
- Train 01481: Departs Pune every Tuesday from October 20 to November 24, 2026, for six trips.
- Train 01482: Departs Muzaffarpur every Thursday from October 22 to November 26, 2026, for six trips.
- Pune departure: 7:40 PM on Tuesday.
- Muzaffarpur arrival: 12 noon on Thursday.
- Return departure: 1:15 PM on Thursday.
- Hadapsar arrival: 2:45 AM on Saturday.
The Pune-bound service starts at Pune and travels via Hadapsar, Daund Chord Line, Ahmednagar, Kopargaon, Manmad, Jalgaon, Bhusaval, Itarsi, Pipariya, Narsinghpur, Madan Mahal, Katni, Maihar, Satna, Manikpur and Prayagraj Chheoki.
It then continues through Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Junction, Buxar, Ara, Danapur, Pataliputra, Sonpur and Hajipur before reaching Muzaffarpur.
The return service follows the route in the opposite direction, connecting north Bihar with major stations across Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.
Coach composition: The announcement lists sleeper-class and general-class coaches, along with SLRD coaches. The supplied coach breakdown does not add up to the stated total of 18 coaches, so passengers should confirm the final composition with the railway authorities.
2. Additional Pune–Muzaffarpur Special: 01453/01454
To provide further capacity on the busy Maharashtra–Bihar corridor, Railways has also announced a second weekly Pune–Muzaffarpur service.
Train schedule
- Train 01453: Departs Pune every Monday from October 19 to November 23, 2026, for six trips.
- Train 01454: Departs Muzaffarpur every Wednesday from October 21 to November 25, 2026, for six trips.
- Pune departure: 7:40 PM on Monday.
- Muzaffarpur arrival: 12 noon on Wednesday.
- Return departure: 1:15 PM on Wednesday.
- Hadapsar arrival: 2:45 AM on Friday.
The train covers the same principal route as the other Pune–Muzaffarpur special, passing through Ahmednagar, Manmad, Bhusaval, Itarsi, Jabalpur, Katni, Satna, Prayagraj Chheoki, Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Junction, Buxar, Ara, Danapur, Pataliputra and Hajipur.
Together, the two services provide additional weekly options for passengers travelling between Pune and north Bihar during the festive period.
Coach composition: The supplied details list eight sleeper coaches, 11 general-class coaches and two SLRD coaches. These figures total 21, although the announcement states a total of 22 coaches. The final composition should be confirmed before travel.
3. Mumbai–Ayodhya Cantt Special: 01045/01046
Passengers travelling from Mumbai towards Ayodhya and the Awadh region will have an additional option through the Lokmanya Tilak Terminus–Ayodhya Cantt special.
The train will operate twice a week during the festive season, providing a direct connection between Mumbai and several important stations in Uttar Pradesh.
Train schedule
- Train 01045: Departs Lokmanya Tilak Terminus every Monday and Friday from October 19 to November 27, 2026, for 12 trips.
- Train 01046: Departs Ayodhya Cantt every Tuesday and Saturday from October 20 to November 28, 2026, for 12 trips.
- LTT departure: 7:35 AM.
- Ayodhya Cantt arrival: 10:15 AM the following day.
- Ayodhya Cantt departure: 1:50 PM.
- LTT arrival: 5:15 PM the following day.
The Mumbai-to-Ayodhya service will pass through Kalyan, Igatpuri, Nashik Road, Manmad, Bhusaval, Khandwa, Itarsi, Jabalpur, Katni, Satna, Manikpur, Prayagraj Junction, Maa Belha Devi Dham Pratapgarh and Sultanpur before reaching Ayodhya Cantt.
The return service will cover the same principal stations in reverse order.
Coach composition: The announcement lists 11 general-class coaches, eight sleeper coaches and two SLRD coaches, but these figures total 21 rather than the stated 22. Passengers should verify the final coach arrangement.
4. Khurda Road–Anand Vihar Terminal Puja Special: 08407/08408
The fourth service is designed for passengers travelling from Odisha and neighbouring eastern states towards the National Capital Region.
The Khurda Road–Anand Vihar Terminal Puja special will pass through parts of Odisha, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and the Delhi region.
Train schedule
- Train 08407: Departs Khurda Road on October 21 and October 25, 2026, for two trips.
- Train 08408: Departs Anand Vihar Terminal on October 23 and October 27, 2026, for two trips.
- Khurda Road departure: 12:15 PM.
- Anand Vihar arrival: The supplied announcement lists 10:30 PM, but the arrival date and journey duration need confirmation against the official timetable.
The route includes Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Jajpur Keonjhar Road, Bhadrak, Balasore, Hijli, Medinipur, Bishnupur, Bankura, Adra, Gomoh, Koderma, Gaya, Dehri-on-Sone, Sasaram, Bhabua Road, Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Junction, Subedarganj, Govindpuri, Tundla and Ghaziabad before reaching Anand Vihar Terminal.
The return service will connect Delhi with the same broad corridor, offering an additional travel option for passengers heading towards eastern India.
Coach composition: The announced formation comprises one AC two-tier coach, four AC three-tier coaches, seven sleeper coaches, four general-class coaches and two SLR coaches, making a total of 18 coaches.
Which Passengers Stand to Benefit?
The four pairs of special trains serve different travel corridors during the festive rush.
- Pune to Bihar: Two weekly services offer additional connections to Muzaffarpur and surrounding areas.
- Mumbai to Ayodhya: The twice-weekly service provides a direct option for passengers travelling to Ayodhya and the Awadh region.
- Odisha to Delhi: The Khurda Road–Anand Vihar service connects eastern India with the National Capital Region through several intermediate states.
The services may help reduce pressure on regular trains, particularly on busy routes used by passengers travelling home for Diwali and Chhath Puja. However, the availability of confirmed seats will depend on demand, the final train composition and the number of seats released for booking.
How to Check Dates, Routes and Ticket Availability
Passengers should verify the final timetable, booking status and applicable fares through the official Indian Railways reservation system or authorised railway channels before making travel plans.
Check the following details carefully:
- Train number: Ensure that the booking matches the intended special service.
- Travel date: Confirm the operating date because these trains run only on specified days.
- Boarding station: Some services use different terminals, including Pune and Hadapsar.
- Destination and intermediate stops: Check the exact station name and scheduled arrival time.
- Coach composition and seat availability: Verify the latest information before booking.
Special trains can offer useful alternatives during peak demand, but their announcement does not guarantee a confirmed ticket for every passenger.
The Bottom Line
Indian Railways has announced four pairs of festive special trains linking Pune, Mumbai, Bihar, Ayodhya, Odisha and Delhi for the Diwali–Chhath travel period. The additional services could improve travel options for passengers returning home, but travellers should confirm the official timetable and booking availability, particularly where the supplied schedule or coach figures require clarification.
