New Delhi: Diwali and Chhath Puja are two of the biggest festivals in North India. These festivals are so popular here that locals who live all over the country as well as overseas love to return home to celebrate these festivals with their families and loved ones.


In view of the importance of the occasion, Indian Railways have announced special train services for Diwali and Chhath Puja. According to Indian Railways, special trains would be plied for the people of UP and Bihar, aimed to get people home for the festivals. Trains would be plying from Mumbai to UP and Bihar and would be halting at various stations in between.


Special trains to ply between these dates:


In regards to these special trains, a railway official said that these trains would ply between October 27 and November 17. One train would be heading to Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh and the other would head to Bhagalpur, Bihar, both starting from Mumbai.


According to a schedule issued by Indian Railways, 09183 Mumbai Central-Banaras Festive Special Train would start its journey from Mumbai Central Railway Station at 11 pm every Wednesday. The train is scheduled to reach Ratlam station at around 9 am on Thursday and reach its destination Banaras at around 2 pm on Friday.


Timings for the second special train:


Train number 09184 would start its journey from Varanasi Station every Friday at 7.30 pm and reach Ratlam at 8.15 pm on Saturday. The train would reach its final destination, Mumbai Central Railway Station at 7.20 am on Sunday.


Other Special Train Services:


Train No. 09185 Mumbai Central - Bhagalpur Utsav Special Train would run between October 30 and November 20. This special train would start its journey from Mumbai Central Railway Station at 11:05 am every Saturday and reach Bhagalpur at 10 am on Monday.


Train No. 09186 Bhagalpur-Mumbai Central Festive Special Train would begin from Bhagalpur at 5:00am every Tuesday and reach Mumbai Central at 7.20 am on Thursday.


Train to halt at these places:


Borivali, Vapi, Surat, Vadodara, Ratlam, Kota, Sawai Madhopur, Bharatpur, Achnera, Mathura, Kasganj, Farrukhabad, Kanpur Central, Aishbagh, Barabanki, Gonda, Basti, Gorakhpur, Kaptanganj, Narkatiaganj, Bettiah, Bapudham Motihari, Muzaffarpur, Samastipur, Barauni, Begusarai, Munger and Sultanganj stations.