Extra Holi 9 pairs of Special Trains Announced to Handle Festival Rush

As Holi is around the corner, travel demand in India has increased. People are working or studying far from home, and this is the time of year when they usually travel back to visit their hometown. To manage the heavy rush, the Indian Railway already launched 1500+ Special Trains just to offer the convenience to the passengers. 

This is not the end of launching the special train during Holi. Railways understand the rush and concern of the passengers, and again, it launched 9 pairs of special trains. Every year, trains crossing Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, and east part of India usually see long waiting lists during the festive season. Because of this, Railways has launched immense special trains in advance to control the rush.

Nine More Special Trains Introduced by East Central Railway

Indian Railways updates: it has launched an additional 9 pairs of Holi special trains. To manage the crowd and prevent any mishaps during festivals. These trains are basically introduced in that routes where the demand for tickets is extremely high during Holi.Live train running status is one of the major aspects of a train journey. 

The newly announced trains will run on routes such as:

1-Kharagpur – Jhajha
2-Udhna – Hasanpur Road
3-Charlapalli – Raxaul
4-Gandhidham – Bhagalpur
5-Dhankuni – Anand Vihar
6-Malda Town – Anand Vihar
7-Sealdah – Gorakhpur
8-Asansol – Gorakhpur

As per the Railway officials, these special trains will come into operation around February 22, giving different options so that they can select the train seat before the Holi rush begins. Passengers are travelling to visit their hometowns, and the struggle begins with the ticket confirmation. Due to the rush, it will be difficult to get the tickets, so the additional trains help to reduce the rush and waiting lists on different routes. 

Holi 2026: Large Number of Special Trains Planned

It is not restricted to a single Railway zone; instead, Indian Railways already announced to operate more than 1500+ Holi special trainsduring the festival season. These Holi special trains will be run between late February and March, when the demand rises and touches its peak. 

Indian Railways aims to reduce the crowd and ensure passengers can travel with convenience and safely reach home on time. It reduces the passengers’ rush from the regular trains. Railway authorities are increasing the train services if the demand for tickets continues to rise.

Focus on High-Demand Routes

During Holi, there are certain routes that has massive crowd of passengers. These are the cities Delhi, Patna, Gorakhpur, Varanasi, and the Eastern Railway Zone, and their major junctions become the key hubs for travel. Many workers, students, and professionals who live far from their hometown they come back from the metro cities just to celebrate Holi. 

Due to this Railways made the decision in a way that connects metro cities with Eastern and Northern states. Holi special train is mostly scheduled on the most demanded and busiest routes. It is advised that passengers check Train schedule and seat availability in advance, as bookings during festivals fill up quickly. 

Why Early Travel Planning Matters

Holi is one of the most rush time for Indian Railways. Mostly, the train tickets get booked a week in advance, and it is quite difficult to travel at the last minute. With these additions of special trains,s passengers have relief and have a better chance of finding seats. 

Travel experts suggest a few simple tips:

Check train availability early

• Confirm PNR status before travel
• Choose special trains if regular trains are full
• Avoid last-minute bookings during peak days
• Planning early can save both time and stress.
• Relief for Festival Travelers

This initiative has taken by the Indian Railway and introduced Holi special trains with the aim is to bring the relief to passengers who are willing to travel this festivals. This helps in the connectivity, and these networks focus on managing the rush efficiently. For many travelers planning to visit their hometown during Holi, it is as important as the festival itself. With the introduction of new trains running on major routes during Holi. Reaching home has now become easier this season.

9 Pair of Holi Special Trains 2026-