To accommodate the massive travel demand during Diwali and the accompanying festival season, Indian Railways has announced an extensive schedule of special trains and services across the country. The step is aimed at helping millions of passengers return to their hometowns for celebrations, while easing pressure on regular services.
The rail ministry revealed that approximately 12,000 special train services will be operated between 1 October and 15 November 2025, covering regular long-distance routes as well as weekly and daily festival specials. These include fully unreserved services designed for last-minute travellers. In one zone alone, 30 additional special trains were added, including routes between Mumbai, Konkan, Goa and Bengaluru. Advance bookings for many of these special trains opened from early October.
Among the routing highlights:
- A special bi-weekly service between Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (Mumbai) and Banaras will operate multiple trips during the festival period.
- A weekly special between Madgaon Junction (Goa) and Mumbai (LTT) has been scheduled to run every weekend in October.
- Other newly announced specials include long-haul services from Maharashtra to Bihar, and from Bengaluru to the Konkan coast.
Travel experts however warn that despite the increase in capacity, waiting lists remain high on many routes. They advise passengers to book as early as possible and check schedules carefully, as some special trains run only on specified days of the week.
In addition to extra trains, railway zones have implemented a range of passenger-assistance measures: some stations have restricted platform-ticket sales to reduce overcrowding, special unreserved coaches have been deployed, and safety advisories against carrying firecrackers or inflammable materials on board have been reinforced amid the festive rush.
For travellers planning their Diwali journey, the announcement means more options than usual — but early planning and timely booking remain key to securing a comfortable ride home for the holidays.