During festival season — Diwali, Chhath, Holi and the big holidays — regular trains sell out weeks in advance and waiting lists run into the hundreds. To handle the rush, Indian Railways runs festival special trains. Knowing how to find and book them is the difference between reaching home and being stuck on a waitlist. Here is how.

What Are Festival Special Trains?

Festival special trains are extra trains Indian Railways runs on high-demand routes during festivals to add capacity. They usually have a 5-digit number starting with 0 (like 0xxxx) and run for a limited period around the festival. Because they are added later, seats can be available on them even when the regular trains are fully waitlisted.

How to Find Festival Special Trains

• Search your route on IRCTC / ConfirmYatra for your travel dates — specials appear alongside regular trains once announced. Use our train search to see all trains between your stations.
• Check for the 0-series train numbers — these are the specials.
• Look a few days around your ideal date — specials may run on specific dates only.
• Railways announces specials in phases as demand builds, so check again closer to the date if none show at first.

How to Book a Confirmed Ticket

1. Book the moment specials open. Festival specials fill within hours on busy routes.

2. Be flexible on date and train — an odd-hour departure or a nearby boarding station often still has confirmed seats.

3. Prefer trains where you get a GNWL (book from the originating station) — it clears best if you do end up waitlisted. See types of waiting list.

4. Use Tatkal as a backup one day before travel — read IRCTC Tatkal timing and rules.

5. Check availability across classes — Sleeper may be full while 3AC has seats, or vice versa.

If You Only Get RAC or Waiting List

Don't panic — a low RAC still lets you travel, and a low GNWL often clears. Check your real odds on our PNR status tool and read will my RAC ticket get confirmed and RAC or waiting list: which is better. On festival trains, though, high waiting lists rarely clear — keep a backup. Learn why in why most people can't get festival train tickets.

Tips to Beat the Festival Rush

• Book as early as the specials are announced — waiting even a day hurts.
• Set your passenger details in your IRCTC master list for faster checkout.
• Have a backup train and date ready.
• Track your PNR daily so you can rebook if it isn't moving.

Bottom line: festival special trains (0-series) add seats when regular trains are full — find them on train search, book the instant they open, stay flexible, and track your PNR to secure a confirmed festive journey.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are festival special trains?

They are extra trains Indian Railways runs on busy routes during festivals to handle the rush. They usually have a 5-digit number starting with 0 and run for a limited period around the festival.

How do I find festival special trains?

Search your route and dates on IRCTC or ConfirmYatra — specials appear alongside regular trains once announced, usually with a 0-series number. Check again closer to the date, as railways add specials in phases.

How do I get a confirmed ticket on a festival special?

Book the moment they open, stay flexible on date and train, prefer a GNWL (book from the originating station), and keep Tatkal as a backup one day before travel.

Are seats available on specials when regular trains are full?

Often yes. Because festival specials are added later to boost capacity, they can have seats even when the regular trains on that route are fully waitlisted.

What if I only get a waiting list on a festival train?

A low GNWL may still clear, but high waiting lists on festival trains rarely confirm. Check your real chances on our PNR status tool and keep a backup train or Tatkal option ready.

Heading home for the festival? [Search trains](/search) and [check PNR status](/pnr) on ConfirmYatra.