Dussehra Special Trains 2026: Indian Railways Announces 100 Services Across 11 States
As the Dussehra and Diwali festive season approaches, railway travel is expected to become increasingly busy across several parts of India. Every year, thousands of people working, studying or living away from their hometowns travel back to their families during the festive period. To manage the additional demand, Indian Railways has announced a large number of special train services for the coming months.
According to a recent report, the Railways plans to operate 100 special trains across 11 states, with services continuing through November. Several of these trains will operate through important routes in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, providing additional travel options during the peak festive season.
The announcement is significant for passengers because festival-season tickets on popular routes can become difficult to secure as demand rises. The additional services are intended to provide more capacity and improve connectivity on routes where passenger traffic is expected to increase.
Why Indian Railways Is Running Special Trains for Dussehra
Dussehra is one of India's major festivals, and travel demand traditionally rises around the holiday period. People often make long-distance journeys to spend time with family, visit their hometowns or travel to religious and tourist destinations.
The increase in passenger numbers can put considerable pressure on regular train services. Popular routes may see higher demand for reserved berths as well as general-class travel.
Special trains allow the Railways to add temporary services without permanently changing the regular timetable. These services can be scheduled on routes where additional passenger capacity is particularly useful.
The latest announcement covers 11 states, including Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Delhi, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal.
Dussehra Special Trains: Routes Connecting Telugu States
Passengers in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh have several reasons to watch the special-train schedule closely.
Some of the announced services connect Challapalli (Chandrapally), Bengaluru, Nagarcoil and Srikakulam, while other services connect major cities and important railway stations along the eastern and southern corridors.
The routes are particularly relevant for passengers travelling between Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka during the festive season.
Challapalli–Nagercoil Special Train
One of the highlighted services is the Challapalli–Nagercoil special train, numbered 07535.
According to the reported schedule, this train will operate every Friday from September 25 to October 23, 2026.
The service will pass through several important stations in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. Its reported halts include:
- Nalgonda
- Miryalaguda
- Sattenapalle
- Guntur
- Tenali
- Bapatla
- Ongole
- Nellore
- Gudur
- Chennai Egmore
- Tiruchirappalli
The route gives passengers from several towns in the Telugu states another option for travelling towards Tamil Nadu.
Challapalli–Srikakulam Special Train
Another important service is the Challapalli–Srikakulam special train, numbered 07037.
The service is scheduled to operate from October 6 to November 24, while the return service, Srikakulam–Challapalli train 07038, is scheduled from October 7 to November 25.
The reported stops include Nalgonda, Miryalaguda, Guntur, Vijayawada, Eluru, Tadepalligudem, Rajahmundry, Samalkot, Duvvada, Simhachalam, Kothavalasa, Vizianagaram and Chipurupalle.
This route could be useful for passengers travelling between Telangana and northern Andhra Pradesh during the festive period.
Bengaluru and North India Connectivity Gets an Additional Option
The special-train programme is not limited to southern routes.
A Kanpur Central–SMVT Bengaluru service, numbered 04131, is scheduled to operate every Sunday from October 4 to November 15.
The return service, SMVT Bengaluru–Kanpur Central, numbered 04132, is scheduled to run every Wednesday from October 7 to November 18.
The service is relevant to passengers travelling between northern India and Bengaluru during the extended festive travel period.
What the 100 Special Trains Could Mean for Passengers
The announcement of 100 special trains is important because festive travel creates a temporary surge in demand.
More Travel Options
Passengers who cannot find suitable seats on regular trains may have additional services to consider. This can be particularly useful on routes where demand increases sharply around major festivals.
Better Connectivity
The special services cover multiple states and connect several important cities and towns. For passengers from smaller cities and intermediate stations, a train that stops at their nearest station can make long-distance travel more convenient.
Reduced Pressure on Regular Services
Adding temporary trains can help distribute passengers across more services. This may reduce the concentration of travellers on some regular trains during peak periods.
However, passengers should still check the latest timetable and ticket availability before making travel plans because special-train schedules can have specific operating dates and days of the week.
Why Passengers Should Plan Early
Festival travel is different from ordinary travel because large numbers of people often plan journeys around the same dates.
Passengers should therefore consider checking train schedules well in advance. Those travelling with families may especially benefit from early planning because they may need multiple seats together.
It is also important to verify the exact train number, boarding station, destination and operating date before booking.
The reported announcement states that bookings for the newly announced special services are being opened, giving passengers an opportunity to plan their journeys ahead of the festive rush.
Dussehra Travel Could Boost Demand Across Multiple Transport Networks
Railways are one part of India's larger festive transportation system. During major holidays, road transport, buses, flights and trains can all experience increased demand.
For many families, trains remain an important option for long-distance journeys because they can connect major cities with smaller towns along established railway corridors.
The addition of special services can therefore be particularly useful for people who need to travel several hundred kilometres to reach their hometowns.
The impact can also extend beyond passengers. Busy festive travel periods generally increase activity around railway stations, local transport services, food outlets and other businesses serving travellers.
Important Things Passengers Should Check Before Travel
Before booking a Dussehra special train, passengers should verify:
1. Operating Date
Special trains generally operate only on specified dates. A train may run on one particular weekday rather than every day.
2. Train Number
Passengers should check the correct train number before booking or boarding.
3. Boarding and Destination Stations
Some routes have multiple stations with similar names or several nearby stations. Checking the exact station is important.
4. Ticket Availability
Special services can also experience strong demand. Passengers should not assume that additional trains will automatically mean unlimited availability.
5. Latest Railway Updates
Passengers should check the latest official railway information before departure for any changes to timings, platforms, stoppages or operating dates.
FAQs About Dussehra Special Trains 2026
How many Dussehra special trains have been announced?
Indian Railways has announced 100 special train services across 11 states for the festive season, according to the reported information.
Which states are covered by these special trains?
The reported states include Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Delhi, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal.
When will the special trains operate?
The services have different operating schedules. Some are scheduled from September and October, with several services continuing into November.
Is there a special train from Challapalli to Nagercoil?
Yes. Train 07535 is scheduled to operate from Challapalli to Nagercoil every Friday from September 25 through October 23, 2026, according to the reported schedule.
Is there a special train between Challapalli and Srikakulam?
Yes. Train 07037 is scheduled from Challapalli to Srikakulam from October 6 to November 24, with the return service operating from October 7 to November 25.
When should passengers book their tickets?
Passengers planning Dussehra or Diwali travel should check availability as early as possible, particularly if they need to travel on or around the busiest festival dates.
Conclusion
The announcement of 100 special trains across 11 states is an important development for passengers preparing for the Dussehra and Diwali travel season. With increased demand expected on several railway corridors, the additional services can provide more choices for people travelling to their hometowns, visiting family members or making long-distance journeys.
For passengers in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, services such as the Challapalli–Nagercoil and Challapalli–Srikakulam special trains provide additional connectivity during the festive period. Other services linking Bengaluru with northern India further expand the network of temporary travel options.
The key for passengers will be advance planning. Checking the exact train number, operating date, route, stoppages and ticket availability before travelling can help avoid last-minute problems.
As the festive season approaches, these special services are expected to play a useful role in accommodating the additional passenger demand created by Dussehra and Diwali travel.