Nagpur: Indian Railways has transported a record-breaking number of passengers, exceeding the combined population of Australia and New Zealand, during a single day on November 4, 2024. Over 120.72 lakh passengers (including 19.43 lakh reserved and 101.29 lakh unreserved non-suburban travelers) were carried, marking the highest single-day passenger count for the year.

The ongoing festive season has led to an unprecedented rush, especially for the Pooja, Diwali, and Chhath festivals. Between October 1 and November 5, Indian Railways facilitated 7.5 crore passengers traveling to states like Bihar, Eastern Uttar Pradesh, and Jharkhand through its extensive network of special trains. To accommodate this surge, 7,666 special train services have been scheduled between October 1 and November 30, 2024—a 73% increase from last year’s 4,429 special services during the same period. So far, 4,521 special trains have run from October 1 to November 5, catering to approximately 65 lakh passengers in these special services.

On November 4, the suburban network alone managed a substantial suburban traffic count of 180 lakh passengers, further contributing to the highest single-day figures this year.

Special Train Services for Chhath Festival Return Rush

To accommodate the anticipated return rush after Chhath celebrations, additional special trains are planned across various divisions, including Samastipur and Danapur, starting on November 8, following the morning sun ritual. The plan includes 164 special trains on November 8, with subsequent days—November 9 to 11—scheduled for between 155 to 161 trains per day. Unannounced trains may be added based on real-time passenger demand.

Central Railway Efforts and Statistics

In support of the festive demand, Central Railway has scheduled 733 special train services for the Diwali and Chhath rush in 2024. Up to November 5, Central Railway has run 402 of these services, facilitating approximately 3.15 lakh passengers during this period.

Recent daily operations include:

• November 3: 20 special trains

• November 4: 17 special trains

• November 5: 15 special trains

• November 6: 15 special trains scheduled

• November 7: 16 special trains planned

This increase in services underscores Indian Railways’ commitment to managing high passenger volumes during the festive season, with continuous efforts to provide efficient transportation to key regions.