Indian Rail Travel: Vande Bharat, Waitlists, Festival Rush — 2026-09-08
Indian Railways has launched a massive special train operation for the upcoming Diwali and Chhath Puja festivals, with booking for key routes opening in early September. Simultaneously, the network is expanding its premium Vande Bharat Sleeper fleet, aiming for 260 rakes to handle long-distance overnight travel.
Indian Rail Travel: Vande Bharat, Waitlists, Festival Rush — 2026-09-08
Top developments
Diwali and Chhath Special Train Operations Announced
Indian Railways has announced over 20 festival special trains to manage the surge in travel demand for Diwali (November 2026) and Chhath Puja. Booking for these trains began on September 6, 2026, with a focus on high-demand corridors connecting metros like Delhi, Mumbai, and Bangalore to Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. The North Central Railway alone has scheduled 14 special trains for October and November 2026 to ease congestion on major routes
Vande Bharat Sleeper Expansion Plan
Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw confirmed plans to operate 180 kmph Vande Bharat Sleeper trains under a mega plan to deploy 260 rakes. These new sleeper versions, which feature aircraft-style bio-vacuum toilets and cushioned berths, are designed to compete directly with Rajdhani Express services on long-distance overnight routes. The expansion aims to significantly boost premium passenger capacity by 2030
Farewell to Steam: Vande Bharat Crosses 9.1 Crore Passengers
A PIB release highlighted that since its inception, the Vande Bharat Express has carried over 9.1 crore passengers across approximately 1 lakh trips. This milestone underscores the rapid shift from legacy steam-era infrastructure to high-speed semi-high-speed services, with occupancy rates consistently exceeding 100% in recent financial years due to aggressive capacity management
Local view
Hindi-language media outlets such as AajTak and NDTV India are heavily advising travelers to book tickets immediately due to the "Tatkal fight" expected during the festive season. Reports emphasize that securing confirmed seats on Delhi-Patna and Mumbai-Katihar routes will be extremely difficult without early planning. Local stakeholders in Bihar are urging passengers to utilize the newly announced special trains rather than relying solely on regular services, which historically face massive waitlists during Chhath Puja
Context & numbers
- Vande Bharat Occupancy: Overall occupancy for Vande Bharat Express trains stood at 105.03% in FY2025-26 (up to June 2025), reflecting sustained demand exceeding supply
- Revenue Generation: In April and May 2026 alone, Vande Bharat services carried 15.21 lakh passengers, generating ₹162.96 crore in revenue
- Sleeper Performance: The sleeper version of Vande Bharat, launched in January 2026, carried 1.21 lakh passengers in its first three months with occupancy above 100%
On the radar
- Pune-Ratnagiri Special Trains: Central Railway’s Pune Division has scheduled additional weekly special trains connecting Pune Junction with Ratnagiri for Ganesh Chaturthi pilgrims throughout September 2026
- Timing Revisions: From September 2, 2026, Vande Bharat trains from Varanasi to Ranchi and Deoghar will depart 10 minutes earlier to optimize scheduling
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