Indian Railways Announces 1,244 Special Holi Trains to Ease Festival Rush
With travel demand rising ahead of the festive season, Indian Railways has rolled out an extensive plan to ensure smooth journeys for passengers heading home for Holi. The national transporter will run 1,244 special train trips across the country from February 25 to March 18, 2026, with the possibility of increasing services to 1,500 if demand grows.
The move aims to reduce overcrowding, provide confirmed tickets, and make festival travel safer and more comfortable for millions of passengers.
Key routes include services from Mumbai, Pune, and Nagpur to major northern and eastern destinations such as Gorakhpur, Hazrat Nizamuddin, and Barauni.
Additional services will also operate from eastern coastal cities like Visakhapatnam, Puri, and Bhubaneswar to destinations including Patna, Dhanbad, and SMVT Bengaluru.
Cities in Bihar and Jharkhand such as Patna, Darbhanga, Saharsa, and Dhanbad will connect with New Delhi, Anand Vihar Terminal, Chandigarh, and SMVT Bengaluru.
Major eastern railway hubs like Howrah, Sealdah, Kolkata, and Malda Town will run services to Raxaul, Madhubani, and Gorakhpur.
In South India, stations including MGR Chennai Central, Ernakulam, Thiruvananthapuram North, Coimbatore, Secunderabad, and Tirupati will connect to northern destinations such as Patna, Muzaffarpur, Ajmer, and Jaipur.
The rail network has also indicated that more trains may be introduced if passenger demand continues to rise, offering further relief to festival travellers.
The move aims to reduce overcrowding, provide confirmed tickets, and make festival travel safer and more comfortable for millions of passengers.
Expanded Routes to Reduce Congestion
To handle the heavy rush, special trains will connect major metro cities, state capitals, and regional hubs. These services are expected to ease pressure on regular trains while improving connectivity nationwide.Key routes include services from Mumbai, Pune, and Nagpur to major northern and eastern destinations such as Gorakhpur, Hazrat Nizamuddin, and Barauni.
Additional services will also operate from eastern coastal cities like Visakhapatnam, Puri, and Bhubaneswar to destinations including Patna, Dhanbad, and SMVT Bengaluru.
Strong Connectivity Across States
Railways has focused on strengthening links between high-demand regions, especially in eastern and northern India.Cities in Bihar and Jharkhand such as Patna, Darbhanga, Saharsa, and Dhanbad will connect with New Delhi, Anand Vihar Terminal, Chandigarh, and SMVT Bengaluru.
Major eastern railway hubs like Howrah, Sealdah, Kolkata, and Malda Town will run services to Raxaul, Madhubani, and Gorakhpur.
In South India, stations including MGR Chennai Central, Ernakulam, Thiruvananthapuram North, Coimbatore, Secunderabad, and Tirupati will connect to northern destinations such as Patna, Muzaffarpur, Ajmer, and Jaipur.
Zones Operating Maximum Services
Several railway zones will manage these special operations, with the East Central Railway handling the highest number.- East Central Railway: 50 services, 275 trips
- Central Railway: 20 services, 129 trips
- East Coast Railway: 8 services, 62 trips
- Eastern Railway: 22 services, 48 trips
- Northern Railway: 48 services, 204 trips
- North Central Railway: 16 services, 46 trips
- North Eastern Railway: 12 services, 27 trips
- North Frontier Railway: 10 services, 29 trips
- North Western Railway: 14 services, 28 trips
- South Central Railway: 16 services, 40 trips
- South Eastern Railway: 28 services, 107 trips
- South East Central Railway: 10 services, 14 trips
- Southern Railway: 12 services, 31 trips
- South Western Railway: 8 services, 21 trips
- West Central Railway: 18 services, 43 trips
- Western Railway: 32 services, 120 trips
- Konkan Railway: 4 services, 20 trips
Railways’ Plan for Festive Travel
Indian Railways says the initiative will help millions travel home on time for Holi while reducing congestion on regular trains. By increasing capacity and improving connectivity, the special services aim to ensure safe, timely, and hassle-free journeys during one of India’s busiest travel periods.The rail network has also indicated that more trains may be introduced if passenger demand continues to rise, offering further relief to festival travellers.
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