With Diwali still weeks away, the annual festive travel rush has already entered the booking phase, with passengers beginning to reserve train tickets for journeys around the festival.
Diwali will be celebrated on November 8 this year, and the 60-day advance reservation system of Indian Railways has opened bookings for travel dates around the festival. The first set of bookings began on September 6 for journeys falling within the peak Diwali travel period.
The early opening of reservations is significant for passengers planning to travel home or visit relatives during the festive period, when demand for confirmed berths traditionally rises sharply. Those planning journeys around November 5-10 are being advised to check availability and make reservations as early as possible.
Under the current reservation system, regular train tickets can generally be booked up to 60 days before the journey, excluding the date of travel. Reservations open at 8 am on the opening day through the railway reservation system.
The festive period is expected to put additional pressure on popular routes connecting major cities with destinations in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra and other parts of the country. Passengers travelling on high-demand routes may therefore face rapidly rising waitlists as the festival approaches.
Indian Railways has also begun planning additional services to handle the seasonal rush. Festival special trains are being introduced on several busy corridors, with services announced on routes including Varanasi-Delhi, Ayodhya Cantt-Anand Vihar, Chandigarh-Patna and Firozpur-Patna. More services are expected to be added as demand patterns become clearer.
Railway authorities have advised passengers to plan their journeys in advance and regularly check the availability of seats and newly announced special trains. Passengers should also verify train schedules before travelling, as special services may operate only on selected dates and may have different fares or stoppages.
For travellers yet to make plans, the message is straightforward: waiting until the festive season is closer could mean facing longer waitlists and fewer options, while booking early gives passengers a better chance of securing their preferred train and class.