As per our sources, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation will start services an hour early at 6 am on 8 November 2026 on the Pink, Magenta and Grey lines, which normally open at 7 am on Sundays. The last train from terminal stations on all lines, including the Airport Express Line, will leave at 10 pm instead of the usual 11 pm because of Diwali evening celebrations. DMRC has told passengers to plan journeys and check its website and social handles for updates.
This is significant as festival timetable shifts are a recurring operations test for India’s largest metro network ahead of Diwali on 8 November. Earlier starts on three lines serve morning travel while the earlier close frees staff and reduces exposure during peak firecracker hours. The change also sits beside the 40 extra weekday trips already running under GRAP Stage II pollution measures.
We believe that DMRC will keep the 10 pm last train rule for at least one more major festival night in 2027 if 8 November boardings stay orderly and incident reports stay low. Operators elsewhere will copy the early start and early close pattern when Diwali falls on a Sunday. What coverage often misses is the lost maintenance window when last trains move an hour earlier rather than later.
This holds significance for our readers because you should publish the revised Diwali timetable to clients and station partners before Saturday evening. Check staffing and crowd plans for the 6 am Pink Magenta and Grey opens. Compare DMRC festival close rules with Ahmedabad and Chennai festive schedules issued this week.
The Indian Express, 6 November 2026. ThePrint PTI, 6 November 2026. Hindustan Times, November 2026.
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