Eastern Railway has scheduled extra Puja, Diwali and Chhath special trains between Kolkata, Howrah, North Bengal and Assam for Oct‑Nov 2026. Ticket booking dates will be announced shortly, offering more travel options during the festive rush.

  • 7 additional trains during Puja, Diwali and Chhath festivals
  • Key services on Howrah‑Lumding and Kolkata‑New Jalpaiguri routes
  • General, Sleeper and AC coaches available; booking date pending

Eastern Railway (ER) has unveiled a slate of special trains to handle the expected surge of passengers during the upcoming Puja, Diwali and Chhath celebrations. The services will run from mid‑October to the end of November 2026, covering the strategic Howrah‑Lumding and Kolkata‑New Jalpaiguri corridors.

Howrah‑Lumding Puja Special Train

Train number 03005, the Howrah‑Lumding Puja Special, will depart Howrah every Friday at 07:15 AM and arrive in Lumding at 08:00 AM the following day. A total of seven trips are scheduled. The return service, train 03006 Lumding‑Howrah, will leave Lumding each Saturday at 11:00 AM and reach Howrah at 12:30 PM the next day. Both directions will stop at Bandel, Nabadwip Dham, Katwa, Azimganj, Jangipur Road, New Farakka and Malda Town, among others.

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Kolkata‑New Jalpaiguri Puja Special Train

Train 03129, Kolkata‑New Jalpaiguri Puja Special, will run every Saturday and Sunday, departing Kolkata at 11:10 PM and arriving at New Jalpaiguri at 10:45 AM the next day. The return train 03130 will operate on Sundays and Mondays, leaving New Jalpaiguri at 12:45 PM and reaching Kolkata at 12:40 AM. Both services will offer General Second Class, Sleeper Class and Air‑conditioned accommodation.

Historical Background

Indian Railways has a long tradition of running special trains during major festivals to manage passenger spikes. The practice began in the early 1990s and has expanded each year, with special services now covering Puja, Diwali, Eid and New Year celebrations, significantly easing congestion on regular routes.

Why This Matters

BozokMedia analysis shows that these additional services will not only relieve pressure on existing trains but also stimulate regional economies by facilitating smoother pilgrim and tourist movement during peak festive periods.

"Special trains provide passengers with reliable, timely travel options while boosting revenue for the railway," said a senior railway official.
Did You Know?: In 2022, Puja special trains carried over 2.5 million passengers, contributing to a 12% rise in railway revenue during the festive season.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question 1: When will ticket bookings open?
Answer: The railway will announce the exact booking date soon; it is not yet released.

Question 2: What classes will be available on these special trains?
Answer: General Second Class, Sleeper Class and Air‑conditioned coaches will be offered on all services.