The Eastern Railway is set to run special trains from January 9 to 17 to manage the huge influx of pilgrims expected during the Gangasagar Mela 2026, ensuring smooth travel and reducing congestion on the busy routes. The plan includes additional suburban train services, designated platforms and strictly controlled boarding arrangements.

Divisional Railway Manager Rajeev Saxena said 18 extra EMU suburban services, eight down and 10 up, will run daily during the mela between Sealdah, Kakdwip and Namkhana. With this, the total number of special EMU services during the seven-day event will rise to 126. He added that the Railways has scheduled the maximum possible number of services, taking into account capacity constraints on the single-line section between Lakshmikantapur and Namkhana, while prioritising operational safety.

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Gangasagar Mela Special Trains: Revised Train Timings

Sealdah To Namkhana

  • Early morning: 6:15 am

  • Afternoon: 2:40 pm

  • Night: 12:01 am, 1:23 am, 2:55 am

 

Kolkata Station To Namkhana

  • Morning: 7:35 am, 8:24 am

  • Night: 9:30 pm

Namkhana To Sealdah

  • Morning: 9:10 am, 11:18 am

  • Evening: 6:35 pm

  • Night: 12:07 am, 1:06 am, 1:25 am, 2:52 am

  • Late night: 10:10 pm

Kakdwip To Sealdah

  • Afternoon: 2:16 pm

Besides these trains, the railways have proposed three additional pairs (six trains) on the Ranaghat-Gede 

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Gangasagar Special Trains: Stoppages

  • Special trains will run in galloping mode and will not halt at all stations.

  • Major stoppages include Ballygunge, Sonarpur, Baruipur, Lakshmikantapur, Nischindapur, Kakdwip and Namkhana.

  • Trains operating from Kolkata Station will stop at stations between Kolkata and Majerhat.

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When Will Gangasagar Mela Start?

The Gangasagar Mela 2026 will be held from January 8 to January 17, drawing lakhs of pilgrims to the annual religious gathering. The event will witness its largest turnout during Makar Sankranti, when devotees take the sacred “Punya Snan” at the confluence.

The main bathing ritual is scheduled between 6:58 am on January 14 and 6:58 am on January 15, 2026, with Makar Sankranti falling on Wednesday, January 14. Although the fair spans around ten days, the peak influx of pilgrims is expected from January 10 to January 16, when crowd density will be at its highest.