Delhi Metro to start at 3:30 am on October 18, but only these 4 lines will run early

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Sunday surprise

Planning to travel by Delhi Metro this Sunday? Your journey could begin much earlier than usual. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has announced that trains on four major lines will start running at 3:30 am on October 18, 2026. The special arrangement is intended to help participants of the Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon reach the event venue before the race begins. But the early start won't apply to the entire Metro network.

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Four corridors

Not every Delhi Metro passenger will benefit from the revised schedule. The early morning services will operate only on the Red, Yellow, Blue and Violet lines. These corridors connect major parts of Delhi with neighbouring cities, including Gurugram, Noida, Ghaziabad and Faridabad. Whether you're travelling for the marathon or another early morning commitment, checking your line before leaving home could save you an unnecessary wait.

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Timing twist

The first Metro trains will leave terminal stations at 3:30 am, but don't expect the usual frequency. According to DMRC's announced schedule, trains will run every 15 minutes until 4:15 am. Between 4:15 am and 6 am, the waiting time will increase to 20 minutes. After 6 am, services will follow the regular Sunday timetable. Passengers planning early journeys should account for these intervals, particularly if they need to change trains.

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Regular restrictions

There's an important catch for passengers using Delhi Metro on October 18. While four lines will begin operations at 3:30 am, all other corridors will follow their regular Sunday schedules. The temporary change has been introduced specifically to support travel for the Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon 2026. Commuters using connecting lines should check their first-train timings separately, as an early service on one corridor does not guarantee an early connection on another.