Holi Special trains: Indian Railways runs 1,244 trips

Indian Railways has expanded Holi Special trains and station arrangements to support festive travel. Meanwhile, the network is running an extensive slate of special services and tightening crowd management across zones, as noted by the Press Information Bureau.

At the same time, between February 25 and March 18, 2026, a total of 1,244 Holi Special train trips are being operated nationwide. The number may increase to 1,500 depending on demand, as reported by Deccan Herald.

Holi Special trains: zone-wise passenger volumes and rush management

Northern Railway: 14 lakh passengers in five days

Northern Railway saw heavy movement, particularly from the Delhi area toward eastern India. In the last five days, 14 lakh passengers travelled from Delhi, and March 1 accounted for 3.36 lakh departures. That day, 22 special trains originated from Delhi. Another 22 additional special trains are planned for March 3.

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Also at Anand Vihar Terminal, designated holding areas, help desks, catering stalls and additional ticket counters were used to keep passenger flow steady. Authorities reported an 18.07% increase in outward passengers compared to the corresponding pre-Holi day last year.

Western Railway: 23,03,445 passengers over three days

Western Railway facilitated travel for 23,03,445 passengers across three days: 13,66,545 on February 27, 4,51,604 on February 28 and 4,85,296 on March 1. Around 20,000 passengers departed from Udhna station on March 1 alone. In addition, in response to the heavy rush and heat, Western Railway distributed nearly 3,000 bottled drinking water units at Udhna station.

South Central Railway: 195 special trains announced

South Central Railway announced 195 special trains from the last week of February through March. Between February 21 and March 2, it operated 26 special trains, with over 50,000 passengers travelling during this period. On March 1 and 2, nine special trains ran, carrying around 15,000 passengers.

Services operated from Secunderabad, Charlapalli and Tirupati to destinations such as Raxaul, Nizamuddin, Kollam, Danapur and Bhubaneswar.

Crowd management and passenger amenities across railway zones

Central Railway implemented structured queue systems and enhanced security at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus to support safe boarding and de-boarding during peak hours. Passengers appreciated the systematic arrangements and on-ground guidance.

North Western Railway said it is operating a record number of special trains with round-the-clock monitoring and strengthened security measures. Eastern Railway ensured smooth crowd management at Howrah Railway Station, where passengers travelling toward Samastipur praised the coordinated efforts of Railway Protection Force personnel and staff. East Central Railway augmented services and introduced additional Holi Special trains to support confirmed seats and reduce congestion on regular routes.

Passenger-centric measures during Holi travel

Across zones, Indian Railways highlighted a package of passenger-centric measures, including Automatic Ticket Vending Machines (ATVMs), dedicated holding areas, real-time electronic display systems, distribution of bottled drinking water, deployment of Railway Protection Force personnel and dedicated war rooms for real-time monitoring, as summarised by PSU Connect.

Separately, Indian Railways said it continues to monitor passenger demand and remains focused on providing safe, timely and comfortable journeys for working professionals, students and families travelling home for Holi.

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