Every festival season, Indian Railways runs special trains for Dussehra and Durga Puja to clear the huge rush — especially on routes to and from West Bengal, Odisha, Bihar and eastern India. These add thousands of extra seats, and most travellers never think to look for them. Here is how to find and book Dussehra & Durga Puja special trains.

What Festival Special Trains Are

Specials are extra services run only for a limited festival period, over and above the regular timetable. They often have a train number starting with 0 (like 0XXXX) and run on specific dates. Because fewer people know about them, they can be easier to get confirmed on than the famous regular trains.

How to Find Them

• Search by route, not by train name. On our train search, look at the full list for your date — specials appear alongside regular trains.
• Check both directions and nearby dates. Specials run on select days; shifting your travel by a day can open a confirmed seat.
• Look at nearby stations for more options, then compare on alternate routes.

How to Book a Confirmed Seat

Specials still open on the normal reservation window and go fast on peak festival dates, so book as early as you can. If general quota is gone, use Tatkal as a backup — see Tatkal booking tips and Tatkal timing and rules. For the complete festival strategy, read how to get confirmed tickets in the Dussehra rush and festival special trains: how to book.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Only checking one train and missing the special on the same route.
• Ignoring the special because the timing looks odd — a confirmed seat beats a waitlist on a "better" train.
• Booking late. Even specials fill on peak dates. See why most people can't get festival tickets.

Planning the trip? Pair this with Dussehra weekend trips from the metros and the Dussehra travel plan & checklist. Track your booking on the PNR status tool.

Bottom line: Dussehra and Durga Puja specials add thousands of seats on busy festival routes — search by route for every date, book early, and don't dismiss a special just because its timing looks unusual.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are Dussehra and Durga Puja special trains?

They are extra trains Indian Railways runs only during the festival period to handle the rush, over and above the regular timetable. Their numbers often start with 0 and they run on specific dates.

How do I find festival special trains?

Search by route and date rather than by a single train name — specials appear alongside regular trains in the list. Check both directions and nearby dates for more confirmed options.

Are special trains easier to get confirmed on?

Often yes. Fewer travellers look for them, so seats can be easier to confirm than on the famous regular trains, especially if you book early.

Do special trains sell out too?

Yes, on peak festival dates they fill fast. Book as early as the window opens and keep Tatkal or an alternate train as a backup.

Find your festival special and [check PNR status](/pnr) on ConfirmYatra.