Pune: With Diwali still one and a half months away, railway reservations from Pune to major destinations such as Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, and Karnataka have already reached full capacity.

Many travelers, aiming to avoid the last-minute rush, started booking their tickets two to three months in advance. As a result, several trains now have extensive waiting lists, prompting the railway authorities to plan additional services to accommodate the festive demand.

Current Waiting List Status:

• Pune-Danapur – 120

• Pune-Gorakhpur – 145

• Pune-Howrah – 205

• Pune-Jammu Tawi – 108

• Pune-Kanyakumari – 40

• Pune-Hyderabad – 102

The Diwali season witnesses a large number of people returning to their hometowns to celebrate, significantly increasing the demand for transportation.

While state-run and private bus services are often fully booked during this time, trains have become the primary option for many due to their affordability and comfort.

Trains like the Gorakhpur Express, Danapur Express, Jhelum Express, and Azad Hind Express are already showing waiting lists, with many trains bound for Marathwada and North India filling up well in advance.

Passengers traveling from Pune mainly head to states such as Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Punjab, and Andhra Pradesh, with trains to Bihar and West Bengal in high demand throughout the year.

This regular overcrowding is often compounded during the festive season, making travel challenging for many. In response, Pune’s railway administration has announced plans for additional services to manage the heavy flow of passengers.

Trains such as Pune-Danapur, Pune-Howrah, Pune-Jhelum, Pune-Manduadih, and Pune-Darbhanga are already showing long waiting lists.

Similarly, Mumbai-bound trains passing through Pune on their way to southern states like Tamil Nadu and Karnataka are also fully booked, with waiting lists exceeding 100.