Railways Holi Update 2026: As the festival of Holi approaches, there’s a rush to travel home, and securing confirmed train tickets for Holi, which falls on March 4, 2026, has become a major challenge. In view of this massive rush, the Indian Railways has decided to run a record 1,410 Holi special trains across the country.
To facilitate people working in cities like Delhi, Mumbai, and Gujarat, the Railways has focused primarily on routes in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. According to the Railways, these special trains will operate between February 28 and March 9, helping millions of passengers reach their homes for the festival.
Key Special Trains on the UP and Bihar Route
The Railways has designated several important routes for passengers traveling to Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. The Sogaria-Danapur-Sogaria Holi Special train will run weekly between February 28 and March 9, stopping at stations like Prayagraj Chheoki, Mirzapur, Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Junction, and Buxar. Similarly, for those traveling from Madhya Pradesh to Bihar, the Rani Kamlapati-Danapur special train will run two trips, reaching Danapur via Prayagraj Chheoki via Jabalpur and Satna.
The Durg-Hazrat Nizamuddin-Durg special train from Delhi to Chhattisgarh and Uttar Pradesh will run from March 1 to March 3, covering major stations such as Mathura, Agra, Jhansi, and Sagar. Additionally, the Hapa-Naharlagun train, traveling from Gujarat to the northeast, has also been extended to provide relief to passengers traveling to Varanasi and Chhapra.
Trains by Railway Zone
Various railway zones have completed their preparations to manage the crowds. East Central Railway (ECR) is operating 285 special trains for the most-pressured routes in Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh. Northern Railway has allocated 108 trains for passengers from Delhi and NCR, primarily departing from Anand Vihar and New Delhi stations.
Western and Central Railways have also decided to run 231 and 209 trains, respectively, to facilitate passengers arriving from cities like Mumbai and Pune. South Central Railway has also allocated 160 trains, making it easier for people returning home from South India to the North.
Current Booking Situation
Train bookings ahead of Holi are quite worrying, as sleeper and AC class seats on routes from New Delhi to Patna, Darbhanga, Jaynagar, and Ranchi are already full. Waiting lists on many major trains have reached 90 to over 200, making it difficult to find a seat on regular trains like the Punjab Mail and Mahakaushal Express.
In such a situation, booking tickets on Holi special trains is the most prudent option for passengers. Railways has advised passengers to regularly check availability in the ‘Special Train’ category on the official IRCTC website or app, as new trains are often announced at the last minute based on demand.
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Vikram Singh
Author at TimesBull covering breaking news and current affairs.
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