New Delhi: Good news for railway passengers. To ease the burden on passengers facing heavy crowds and long waiting lists this summer, the Indian Railways has revealed plans to run a total of 18,262 summer special trains nationwide over the next three months.

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As per the Railways, notifications for 11,294 of these trains have already been released to help passengers plan their trips ahead of time. A total of 908 summer special trains have been approved between April 15, 2026 and July 15, 2026. These trains will make 18,262 trips to meet the increased travel demand.

Of these, 660 trains (comprising 11,294 trips) have already been notified. This ensures that a large portion of the scheduled services are available to passengers well in advance for booking and travel planning purposes. This extensive planning reflects Indian Railways’ proactive approach during the summer holidays, festivals, and other peak travel months.

Most trains will operate in these zones

The Railways has distributed trains by zone to link various regions of the country.

Central Railway: The highest number of trains at 3,082
East Central Railway: 2,711 trains
North Western Railway: 2,245 trains

Waiting list will decrease

With this initiative, Indian Railways aims to manage the growing number of passengers while also providing confirmed tickets to millions by cutting down the waiting list.

Railway officials mention that the goal of these special trains is to ensure smooth and comfortable travel. The additional trains will help lower waiting lists and make ticket acquisition easier for passengers. Moreover, it will alleviate congestion on busy routes, allowing regular trains to run more effectively.

This decision comes as summer vacations are approaching, and many individuals have had to return home due to fuel shortages. By deploying special trains on high-demand routes, Indian Railways is ensuring that passengers face minimum inconvenience during the summer rush.

The purpose of the special train is to reduce the waiting list during the busy travel season.