The move is expected to provide relief to migrants from the Northeast and neighbouring states by adding services on routes witnessing high passenger demand.
The NFR Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) said passenger safety and comfortable travel to destinations remain the Indian Railways' top priority during the festive season. He said ticket demand rises sharply during festivals, with seats on regular trains booked months in advance, creating difficulties for passengers. To address the situation, NFR has prepared a plan to operate four pairs of special trains.
According to railway officials, the four pairs of special trains will operate on routes where passenger pressure is expected to be particularly high during the festive period. The services will connect major railway stations including Katihar, Amritsar, Dibrugarh, Kolkata, Bhagalpur and Guwahati.
The Katihar–Amritsar–Katihar Festival Special will operate between Katihar in Bihar and Amritsar in Punjab. The service is expected to assist workers and families from Bihar living in Punjab and Delhi and will pass through major stations in northern India.
The Dibrugarh–Kolkata–Dibrugarh Festival Special will connect Dibrugarh in Assam with Kolkata in West Bengal. The service has been planned to manage the heavy passenger rush during Durga Puja. The route sees substantial passenger movement because of the cultural and commercial links between West Bengal and Assam.
The Bhagalpur–Katihar–Bhagalpur Special will serve passengers travelling within Bihar. The local route service is expected to provide additional travel options during Diwali and Chhath, when passenger movement within the state increases.
The fourth pair of special trains has been linked with Guwahati, the main gateway to the Northeast, to facilitate passenger movement between the city and other important railway divisions in the region.
All four special train services will operate according to their scheduled timings, stoppages and coach composition. The trains will include air-conditioned (AC), sleeper and general categories, allowing passengers to travel according to their requirements and budget.
NFR has also increased the number of trips of some festival special trains that had already been announced. The railway expects passenger numbers to reach their peak from October through the end of November. Based on experience from previous years, efforts have been made this time to double the number of trains and trips.
As per directions from the Railway Board, thousands of special trains are being operated across the country during the festive season. NFR is making arrangements within its jurisdiction for passengers travelling across Assam, northern parts of West Bengal, some areas of Bihar, Nagaland and Tripura.
Alongside the additional train services, the railway administration has stepped up preparations for security and crowd management at major stations. According to the official NFR statement, additional security personnel will be deployed at major stations including Guwahati, Katihar, New Jalpaiguri and Dibrugarh.
Personnel from the Railway Protection Force (RPF) and Government Railway Police (GRP) will remain deployed at stations around the clock. Special barricading arrangements are being made at entry and exit points to manage crowds. CCTV cameras installed at stations will also be used to monitor suspicious activities and unattended luggage.
Additional ticket counters and help desks will be opened at stations to provide passengers with accurate information about train timings and platform numbers. Instructions have also been issued to ensure the availability of wheelchairs and porters for elderly and differently abled passengers.
Railway authorities have stated that ticket bookings for the festival special trains are being started through the official website and mobile app of the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC). Passengers can also book tickets through reservation counters (PRS) at railway stations.
Officials have advised passengers to plan their journeys in advance and book tickets at the earliest to avoid last-minute rush and falling into the hands of touts. The railway has also made some changes to waiting-list rules this time so that only valid ticket holders can travel on the trains and excessive crowding in sleeper coaches can be avoided.
The NFR's decision to increase festival-season services is aimed at easing the travel pressure faced by migrants who return to their native places during the festive period. The additional trains and trips are also intended to help maintain smoother rail traffic operations as passenger movement rises during the festival season.
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