North Western Railway Announces Special Trains for West Bengal Election Rush
In anticipation of a significant increase in passenger traffic ahead of the upcoming West Bengal Legislative Assembly elections in 2026, the North Western Railway (NWR) has decided to operate at least five special trains connecting Rajasthan with West Bengal. Railway officials have confirmed that bookings on major routes are already running at full capacity, necessitating urgent measures to manage both the seasonal and election-driven rush of travelers.
Election Schedule and Passenger Demand
The elections are scheduled to take place from April 23 to 29, 2026, to elect all 294 members of the state assembly. This period is expected to see large-scale movement of migrant workers employed in cities like Bikaner, Jodhpur, Ajmer, and Jaipur, along with political supporters and traders. Consequently, demand for eastbound trains has surged significantly in recent days, prompting the railway authorities to take proactive steps.
Details of Special Train Operations
NWR authorities have stated that the special trains will be operated from key stations including Ajmer, Bikaner, Jodhpur, and Jaipur. These services will focus on high-demand routes such as Howrah-Jodhpur and Ajmer-Sealdah. "This will be completely demand-based. Usually during summers, the rush for West Bengal-bound trains increases and we run additional services accordingly," said Amit Sudarshan, chief public relations officer of NWR, in a statement to the media.
Currently, one weekly special train is already running between Khatipura (Jaipur) and Howrah. Train Nos. 09709/09710 Khatipura-Howrah-Khatipura weekly special is operational from April 7 to July 1, 2026, completing 26 trips in total, with 13 trips in each direction.
Future Plans and Approvals
Officials have indicated that additional services to Kolkata and nearby stations such as Sealdah and Dankuni will be introduced depending on passenger demand. Meanwhile, the proposed Khatipura-Dankuni special train is currently awaiting approval from higher authorities. The railway administration believes that these additional services will help ease congestion, improve connectivity, and ensure smoother travel during one of the busiest periods of the season.
The move is seen as a strategic response to the anticipated influx of passengers, aiming to provide efficient transportation options and reduce travel hassles for those heading to West Bengal for the elections.
