Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) extends Christmas and New Year 2026 special trains between Guwahati, Sairang, and Agartala to manage festive rush, improve connectivity, and ensure smoother travel across Northeast India.
To effectively manage the anticipated surge in passenger traffic during the Christmas and New Year travel season, the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) has announced the extension of two pairs of special trains. The decision has been taken to ensure smoother travel, enhanced connectivity, and reduced congestion across key routes in the northeastern region of India during the peak festive period.
Every year, the Christmas and New Year holidays witness a sharp rise in passenger movement, particularly across Assam, Tripura, and Mizoram. Keeping this seasonal demand in mind, NFR has extended the operational period of select special trains that were earlier introduced to accommodate festive travelers. The extended services are expected to provide significant relief to passengers planning long-distance journeys during late December 2025 and early 2026.
As part of the extension plan, NFR will continue the operation of Train No. 05609/05610 (Guwahati – Sairang – Guwahati) and Train No. 05628/05627 (Agartala – Guwahati – Agartala) with the same schedule, composition, stoppages, and timings as previously notified.
The Guwahati–Sairang–Guwahati special train pair will operate three additional trips in each direction, aimed primarily at meeting the growing travel demand between Assam and Mizoram. Train No. 05609, running from Guwahati to Sairang, will depart at 06:00 hours on December 26, 28, and 30, 2025, and is scheduled to arrive at Sairang at 19:30 hours on the same day. In the return direction, Train No. 05610 will depart from Sairang at 06:00 hours on December 27, 29, and 31, 2025, reaching Guwahati at 19:50 hours.
This extension is expected to significantly benefit passengers traveling for family reunions, tourism, and official purposes during the Christmas and New Year holidays.
In addition to the Guwahati–Sairang service, NFR has also extended the periodicity of the Agartala–Guwahati–Agartala weekly special trains. These trains will now operate for nine trips each in both directions, covering the period from early January to late February 2026.
Train No. 05628 (Agartala to Guwahati) will depart from Agartala at 19:00 hours every Thursday, starting from January 1, 2026, and will continue until February 26, 2026. The train will reach Guwahati at 08:45 hours the following day.
Conversely, Train No. 05627 (Guwahati to Agartala) will depart from Guwahati at 13:15 hours every Friday, beginning on January 2, 2026, and concluding on February 27, 2026. It will arrive at Agartala at 04:10 hours the next day.
These weekly special trains play a crucial role in maintaining connectivity between Tripura and Assam, especially during the winter travel season when demand remains consistently high.
Northeast Frontier Railway has clarified that there will be no changes in routes, stoppages, coach composition, or timings for these extended special trains. All operational details, including intermediate stoppages and timetable information, are available on the IRCTC official website and the verified social media platforms of Northeast Frontier Railway.
Passengers are strongly advised to verify train schedules, booking status, and travel details before commencing their journeys. Early ticket booking is also recommended to avoid last-minute inconvenience during the festive rush.
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The extension of these Christmas and New Year special trains highlights NFR’s continued commitment to passenger convenience, safety, and operational efficiency. By proactively addressing seasonal travel demand, the railway aims to ensure a comfortable and hassle-free journey for thousands of passengers traveling across the northeastern states.
With increased connectivity, additional capacity, and timely planning, the extended festive special train services are expected to play a vital role in managing holiday travel pressure while supporting regional mobility and economic activity.
