To ensure smooth and hassle-free travel during the upcoming Holi festival, Indian Railways has announced the operation of a record number of more than 1,410 Holi Special Trains across the country, with the figure expected to rise to around 1,500 services during the festive period in March.
The special trains are being introduced to manage the anticipated surge in passenger demand and to provide seamless connectivity between major cities and regional destinations. This marks a significant increase compared to Holi 2025, when 1,144 special train trips were operated nationwide.
According to Ministry of Railways, the East Central Railway (ECR) will operate the highest number of special trains at 285 services, followed by the Western Railway (WR) with 231 trains and the Central Railway (CR) with 209 services. The South Central Railway (SCR) will run 160 Holi special trains, while the Northern Railway (NR) has planned 108 services to cater to heavy traffic in northern India.
Other zones have also scaled up operations to strengthen connectivity during the festival. The North Western Railway (NWR) will operate 71 special trains, while the North Central Railway (NCR) has planned 66 services. Both the North Eastern Railway (NER) and the East Coast Railway (ECOR) will run 62 trains each.
In addition, the South Western Railway (SWR) will operate 47 special trains, the West Central Railway (WCR) will run 43 services, and the Southern Railway (SR) has planned 39 trains. The South East Central Railway (SECR) will operate 15 services, while the Konkan Railway (KR) will run nine special trains. The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) will operate two Holi special trains to meet regional travel demand.
The Ministry said the enhanced services reflect Indian Railways’ commitment to ensuring passenger convenience, safety and efficient operations during major festivals, enabling travellers to reach their destinations comfortably during Holi.
