Beat Festival Special Train Travel Challenges with Smart Hacks

Train travel during festivals can be exciting, but limited seat availability and heavy passenger crowds can cause challenges. Indian Railways runs festival special train to meet the passenger surge during Navratri, Diwali and other festivals.

Popular routes and trains face high ticket demand, but limited availability restricts passengers from getting a confirmed ticket. Multiple special trains run during the festive season, causing significant track congestion resulting in delays.

Similarly, passengers face multiple challenges while travelling with special services, and implementing smart hacks can help to improve the travel experience. This post will investigate the challenges of travelling in festive special trains. Moreover, it explores smart hacks to reduce challenges and improve travel comfort.

Festival Special Train in Indian Railways

During festivals, Indian Railways face a huge surge in passenger traffic. Therefore, many temporary services are run to provide more options to passengers. The festival special train manages heavy crowds and reduces pressure on regular trains during festivals like Durga Puja, Dussehra, Diwali, and Chhath Puja.

Festival season makes people move back to their families or plan for pilgrimage journeys and other travel. Special trains increase travel options to reach destinations during high ticket demand. Therefore, use RailMitra’s trains between stations and find the right train by comparing seat availability, schedule, fares, travel class, and other factors.

Issues and Challenges of Travelling on Festival Special Train

Increased numbers of trains on the same track cause track congestion, resulting in unexpected delays. However, other challenges are linked to delays that passengers often face during travel. So, check the issues and challenges faced by passengers during travel on special trains.

Lowest Traffic Priority: Special railway services generally face the lowest priority in comparison to premium and regular trains. Therefore, passengers experience long waiting times at the outer loop during travel.
Delays by Hours: Since special services have no regular schedule and lowest priority, a cascade effect can result in delays of multiple hours.
Ticket Confirmation Uncertainty: Higher demand during festivals and last-minute special train announcements overwhelm booking servers, resulting in longer waiting lists.
Older Coaches: Indian Railways uses older ICF rakes retired from premium lines. However, to meet the increased passenger demand, Festival special trains use old coaches that are prone to technical or mechanical issues.
No Pantry Cars: Special services often don’t attach pantry car services, restricting access to meals and water. Festival journeys and restricted food access cause challenges in meeting a comfortable travel experience.
Hygiene and Sanitation Concern: Overcrowded compartments and overused washrooms and unexpected delays degrade sanitation and cleanliness.

Smart Travel Hacks for Special Train Challenges

Check the list of special train for Diwali, Chhat Puja, Dussehra or Navratri; each offers alternate travel options for passengers. Special railway service brings different issues and challenges during the journey. However, smart hacks can address these challenges or help passengers to plan well for a comfortable travel experience.

Opt for Preferred Seat in Festival Special Train

The lowest priority can make trains wait longer at the outer loop. Uncomfortable seats and overcrowded compartments may cause discomfort. Therefore, opting for an upper berth can provide better privacy in sleeper class, and side lower berth and upper berth often provide more comfort in AC classes.

Frequent PNR Checking

Longer waitlisted tickets require frequent PNR status checks. It helps to understand real-time situations and plan alternatives. Ticket confirmation status also provides journey details from train number to travel class and berth details.

Opposite Luggage Storage Strategy

Keep luggage opposite to alloted seats to keep an eye on luggage. Such smart hacks keep luggage in direct line of sight, improving travel comfort during long travel hours with special trains.

Track Running Status When Travelling in Festival Special Train

Special trains come with unexpected delays due to cascade effects and lower priority in comparison to regular trains. Live train running status helps to find the live location, expected delays, upcoming railway stations, and more. It offers real-time updates to make informed decisions.

Also Read: Traveling During Festival Rush? Here’s Why Train Live Status Matters

Use Ecatering Services when Travelling in Festival Special Train

Unexpected delays and long travel hours attract hunger, and pantry car unavailability causes discomfort. However, food in train service from RailMitra helps you order festival special meals from over 2500 restaurants at 500+ railway stations. Moreover, advance booking options help to reserve meals even during higher demand.

Pack Light and Carry Snacks on Festival Special Train

A light backpack with essential documents like tickets and ID’s can help you deal with crowds in a better way. Moreover, carrying light snacks can help you enjoy sightseeing and the journey even during longer delays.

Keep Charger, Powerbank and Entertainment

Always pre-download movies and web series when travelling in festival special trains. It keeps you entertained during longer delays. Keeping an ear-piece, charger, and powerbank while travelling in a special train often avoids an out-of-battery situation.

Engage with Fellow Passengers

Sharing stories and laughter with fellow passengers often reduces travel stress and improves comfort during longer delays. However, respect other privacy to make new friends and share valuable tips.

Carry Hygiene and Comfort Essentials

Small pillows and light blankets add comfort during the night journey. Moreover, carrying hygiene essentials like brush, paste, hand wash, sanitizer, deodorant, and face wash helps to maintain hygiene in crowded trains.

Keep Buffer Time During Special Train Trip

It becomes essential to keep buffer time during travel by special train. It helps to avoid last-minute surprises, especially during connecting journeys. Uncertain travel time affects the overall planning, and smart buffer hacks can save you from surprises.

Bonus Hacks for Passengers

Some bonus hacks can save you from discomfort during a special train journey. So, check the bonus hacks for a comfortable journey.

Know the 3 Hours Delay Refund Rules

During train delays of more than 3 hours, if the train does not arrive at the boarding station, passengers can seek a refund when a travel plan is cancelled.

Use Chart Vacancy During RAC or Waitlisted Ticket

Passengers can use the train chart vacancy to find the vacant seats. It helps during RAC or waitlisted tickets when travel is required because confirmed tickets are not available.

Conclusion

Travelling with a festival special train can be challenging. Limited seats, huge crowds, lower traffic priority, and frequent delays affect the travel experience. Different challenges impact the festive journey and cause discomfort.

However, implementing smart hacks can make the train journey more comfortable. Train tracking, frequent PNR checking, using e-catering service, comfortable berths, and carrying essentials can address the challenges and make the journey more comfortable.

Keeping buffer time and being prepared for unexpected delays can help you plan well. It assists passengers to stay ready with entertainment. However, comfortable pillow and thin bedsheet improves night travel comfort.