In view of the rush on trains during Holi, Indian Railways has taken a major decision. The railways have planned to run more than 1,410 special trains during Holi, which can be increased to 1500 if needed.

As the Holi festival approaches, the number of passengers returning home across the country suddenly increases. Like every year, considering the heavy rush on trains this time as well, Indian Railways has taken a major decision. The railways have planned to run more than 1,410 special trains during Holi 2026. These can be increased to 1500 if needed. These trains will operate in the month of March to provide passengers with safe and comfortable travel. According to the Ministry of Railways, the purpose of these special trains is to control the increased crowd during the festivals and provide better connectivity on major routes. Last year, during Holi 2025, the railways ran 1,144 special train trips, while this time, much more extensive preparations have been made.

Zone-wise: Where and how many Holi special trains will run?

Keeping in mind the movement of passengers, the railways have prepared a complete plan for trains zone-wise. East Central Railway will run the most Holi special trains, 285 in total. This will be followed by Western Railway with 231 and Central Railway with 209 trains. Northern Railway will operate 108 special trains, while North Western Railway will operate 71 and North Central Railway 66 trains. North Eastern Railway and East Coast Railway will run 62 special trains each. In addition, South Western Railway will run 47, Western Railway 43, and Southern Railway 39 Holi special trains. South East Central Railway will operate 15 trains, while Konkan Railway will operate 9 and North East Frontier Railway will operate 2 special trains to meet regional demand. East Central Railway's Major Special Trains

East Central Railway is operating several long-distance Holi special trains. These include the Sogaria-Danapur-Sogaria, Rani Kamalapati-Danapur-Rani Kamalapati-Agartala, and Hapa-Naharlagun special trains. These trains will operate on different dates during the last week of February and throughout March, providing significant relief to passengers traveling to Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, and Northeast India.

North Western Railway Also Extends Service Period

North Western Railway has also extended the operating period of several weekly special trains in view of Holi. Several special trains connecting Bikaner-Sainagar Shirdi, Hisar-Khadki, Hisar-Valsad, Bhagat Ki Kothi-Bandra Terminus, and Ajmer will run until the end of March. This will provide convenience to passengers in Rajasthan and Western India. The operation of such a large number of Holi special trains will reduce the pressure on waiting lists and increase the chances of getting confirmed tickets. The railways say that special attention will be paid to managing crowds, maintaining security, and ensuring that passengers reach their destinations without any hassle during the festival.