New Delhi, February 25, 2026: Indian Railways has announced the operation of 1,244 Holi Special train trips across various zones to manage the anticipated surge in passenger traffic during the upcoming Holi festival. The special services will run between February 25 and March 18, 2026, ensuring smooth, safe and comfortable travel for lakhs of passengers returning home for celebrations.
According to the Press Information Bureau, the number of Holi Special train trips may increase to 1,500 if additional demand is observed. These trains will connect major cities, state capitals and key regional centres across the country.
The initiative aims to reduce congestion on regular trains and provide confirmed accommodation during one of India’s busiest travel seasons. Festival travel traditionally witnesses heavy rush, especially on routes linking metros with northern and eastern states.
East Central Railway Leads with 275 Trips
Among all zones, East Central Railway will operate the highest number of Holi Special services, running 50 train services covering 275 trips. These trains will primarily connect Bihar and Jharkhand hubs such as Patna, Darbhanga, Saharsa, Dhanbad and Barauni with New Delhi, Anand Vihar Terminal, Chandigarh, Mumbai and Bengaluru.
Key services include daily specials between Barauni–New Delhi, Darbhanga–New Delhi, and Danapur–SMVT Bengaluru during the notified period. Additional links have also been introduced for Rajgir, Sheikhpura and Gaya.
Northern Railway to Run 204 Trips
Northern Railway will operate 48 Holi Special train services covering 204 trips, strengthening connectivity between the Delhi region and Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Uttarakhand and Punjab.
Important routes include New Delhi–Varanasi, New Delhi–Barauni, Anand Vihar Terminal–Lucknow, and Amritsar–Katihar. Several services will operate daily, while others will run weekly or bi-weekly based on passenger demand.
Western, Southern and Eastern Corridors Covered
Central Railway will operate 129 trips connecting Mumbai, Pune and Nagpur with destinations such as Banaras, Danapur, Gorakhpur, Hazrat Nizamuddin and Samastipur. Daily services like CSMT–Gorakhpur and Pune–Gorakhpur specials are expected to witness high occupancy.
Eastern Railway will run 22 special services covering 48 trips from Howrah, Sealdah, Kolkata and Malda Town towards Raxaul, Madhubani, Gorakhpur and Anand Vihar Terminal. Similarly, East Coast Railway will connect Visakhapatnam, Puri and Bhubaneswar with Patna, Shalimar, Yesvantpur and Dhanbad.
Southern Railway and South Central Railway have introduced additional links from MGR Chennai Central, Ernakulam, Secunderabad, Tirupati and Charlapalli to northern and eastern cities including Patna, Muzaffarpur and Hazrat Nizamuddin.
Enhanced Connectivity Across India
North Western Railway will operate specials from Jaipur, Jodhpur, Ajmer and Bikaner to Bandra Terminus, Gorakhpur and other destinations. South Eastern Railway will add 107 trips connecting Santragachi, Ranchi, Tatanagar and Shalimar with major northern and southern cities.
North Frontier Railway will also strengthen connectivity between Northeast India and states such as Bihar and West Bengal, operating special trains from Dibrugarh, Agartala and Narangi.
Railway officials stated that continuous monitoring will ensure punctuality and passenger convenience. The comprehensive plan reflects Indian Railways’ preparedness to handle seasonal travel peaks efficiently.