Railways festive boost: 12,000 special trains for Diwali, Chhath; Vande Bharat Sleeper debut by Oct 15

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Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced on Tuesday that Indian Railways is preparing on a large scale with 12,000 special trains to handle the huge rush of passengers expected during the upcoming festive season of Chhath Puja and Diwali.

Vaishnaw said that last year around 7,500 special trains were operated during the festival period. This time, the number has been increased, with a target of running 12,000 special trains across the country.

Out of this, close to 10,000 trains have already been notified, while the rest will be announced gradually depending on demand. To handle last-minute crowds, 150 trains will be kept fully unreserved and ready to operate whenever needed.

The festive special services will begin on October 1 and will continue until November 15, covering the entire festive travel window, Business Standard reported.

Talking about the Railways’ performance, Vaishnaw highlighted that punctuality has also improved in many parts of the country. He said that 29 out of 70 divisions have now achieved over 90 percent punctuality, which reflects greater efficiency in train operations.

Also, the minister confirmed that testing has been completed successfully for the much-awaited Vande Bharat Sleeper trains, and the trains are ready for rollout. Two rakes will be launched together, with one already prepared and the second expected to be ready by October 15.

The minister assured that elaborate arrangements have been made to manage the festive rush, with real-time monitoring to ensure smooth and safe operations for passengers. With the record number of special trains, better punctuality, and the introduction of Vande Bharat Sleeper services, the Railways is aiming to provide a more comfortable travel experience for millions this festive season.

Apart from these announcements, Vaishnaw also approved the construction of a new 18-km Rajpura-Mohali railway line in Punjab at a cost of Rs 443 crore. This line will directly connect the Malwa region with the state capital, Chandigarh.

He also announced a new Vande Bharat Express service that will link Firozpur Cantt, Bhatinda, and Patiala with Delhi, covering 486 km in just 6 hours and 40 minutes.