Indian Railways Boosts Capacity with Thousands of New Special Trains to Accommodate Record-Breaking Festive Travel

Published on October 20, 2025

As India neared its busiest travel season, marked by Diwali and Chhath, Indian Railways undertook significant measures to manage the immense surge in passenger numbers. These annual festivals traditionally see a massive increase in travel, which puts substantial pressure on the country’s transport infrastructure. In anticipation of this, Indian Railways not only ramped up its regular operations but also added a substantial number of special trains to meet the growing demand. Their goal was clear: to ensure smooth, efficient, and comfortable travel for the millions of people journeying across the nation. These efforts were designed to accommodate passengers more effectively by enhancing station facilities, improving service quality, and ensuring smooth operations, thereby making travel more convenient and hassle-free during this peak period.

Surge in Special Train Operations

For the 2025 festive period, Indian Railways set an ambitious goal, planning to operate 12,011 special trains to handle the huge passenger volume. This marked a significant increase from the 7,724 trains operated during the same period the previous year. The increased number of trains was a direct response to the rising demand and aimed to prevent overcrowding, ensuring passengers had access to sufficient travel options. The Railway Ministry had outlined its goal of accommodating the anticipated flood of travelers with greater flexibility in train services. This initiative was designed to ensure that every passenger could travel without delays or inconvenience.

Between October 1st and October 19th, 2025, Indian Railways had already operated 3,960 special trains, demonstrating the scale of the undertaking. These trains were strategically deployed across India, catering to both national and regional travel needs. Every zone within the railway network was allocated special trains to ensure no part of the country was left without adequate transportation options.

Improving Passenger Experience During Peak Travel

While increasing the number of trains was vital, Indian Railways understood that merely adding more services was not enough. The passenger experience needed to be enhanced to manage the expected congestion at stations. As part of their comprehensive strategy, Indian Railways introduced a range of improvements aimed at alleviating the pressure on stations and improving comfort during travel.

Dedicated holding areas were set up at major stations to prevent overcrowding and provide a designated space for passengers while they waited for their trains. This move helped streamline passenger movement and ensured that the flow of people remained orderly, which is particularly important during such high-demand periods.

Additionally, to help reduce waiting times, Indian Railways expanded ticketing services by opening extra ticket counters at key stations. This was especially crucial during the festive rush, as passengers flocked to stations, making the availability of more ticket counters vital for ensuring smooth ticket sales and minimizing delays.

Beyond ticketing, Indian Railways made significant improvements to station facilities, including ensuring access to clean washrooms, potable drinking water, and more comfortable seating for travelers. These enhancements were made to provide passengers with a more pleasant waiting experience, as stations typically become very crowded during the festive season. The overall goal was to reduce discomfort and ensure that passengers could spend their wait time in a more comfortable and stress-free environment.

By October 19th, 2025, these improvements had already paid off, with over 1 crore passengers benefiting from the special train services. The regional zones of Indian Railways played a crucial role in this success. Notably, Northern Railway operated 1,919 special trains, Central Railway managed 1,998 trains, and Western Railway ran 1,501 special trains. This division of efforts across the zones helped ensure that the additional services were evenly distributed, and all regions were well-served during the high-demand period.

Increased Passenger Movement at Major Stations

The increase in passenger numbers was most noticeable in New Delhi, one of the busiest regions for Indian Railways. Major stations such as New Delhi, Delhi, Anand Vihar, Hazrat Nizamuddin, and Shakur Basti saw a marked rise in the number of travelers. Between October 16th and October 19th, 2025, these stations saw a total of 15.17 lakh passengers, a significant increase of 1.51 lakh passengers compared to the same period the previous year.

The surge in passenger traffic was a direct result of the dual festive rush brought about by Diwali and Chhath. These festivals prompt millions of people to travel, either to return home or to visit relatives, making rail services particularly vital during this time. The increase in the number of travelers underscored the need for an efficient, well-maintained railway system that could handle such large volumes of people without issues.

Ministerial Oversight and Engagement

The Union Railway Minister expressed satisfaction with how Indian Railways handled the surge in passengers, acknowledging the significant effort put in by the railway staff. To ensure smooth operations, the Minister took charge of overseeing the situation and reviewed operations at the Railway Board’s War Room, a command center responsible for managing large-scale passenger movements. The War Room played a critical role in making real-time decisions that were crucial for ensuring the seamless movement of passengers.

In addition to overseeing operations from the War Room, the Union Minister visited major railway stations like New Delhi and Anand Vihar, where he engaged directly with passengers. This on-the-ground engagement allowed him to gather valuable feedback, assess the effectiveness of the services provided, and address any concerns raised by travelers. These visits were part of an ongoing effort to ensure that Indian Railways was meeting passengers’ needs effectively and efficiently.

The Minister’s visits also served as an opportunity to recognize the hard work and dedication of the railway staff, who were working tirelessly to ensure that the festive season operations ran smoothly. The direct interaction between the Minister and passengers was aimed not only at resolving immediate issues but also at collecting insights that could help improve services in the future.

Long-Term Impacts on Indian Railways and the Travel Industry

Looking beyond the festive season, the measures taken by Indian Railways are expected to have a long-lasting impact on the railway system and the travel industry as a whole. The 2025 Diwali and Chhath festivals served as a model for how Indian Railways can manage surges in passenger traffic. The improvements in infrastructure, the expansion of special train services, and the upgrades to station facilities reflect a long-term commitment to improving the overall travel experience for passengers.

Indian Railways’ focus on increasing capacity, improving passenger services, and enhancing station facilities will not only help the system cope with the increasing demand but will also make travel more comfortable and efficient for millions of people in the years to come. These efforts represent a larger strategy to modernize and expand India’s railway network and ensure that the infrastructure is capable of handling growing passenger volumes.

On a broader scale, Indian Railways‘ approach to managing peak travel seasons is likely to influence other transportation systems around the world. Many countries with high travel demands during peak periods can draw inspiration from the strategies implemented by Indian Railways, especially in how they can expand their services while maintaining high standards of service.

Global Effects: Setting New Standards in Travel

The success of these efforts is likely to have ripple effects across the global travel industry. Countries with substantial rail networks and peak seasons, similar to India, can adopt strategies that are proven effective in managing large-scale travel. Indian Railways’ focus on optimizing infrastructure and streamlining operations can become a benchmark for how transport systems worldwide can better manage traffic during peak travel times.

Additionally, the improvements made during the festive season will likely influence other sectors of the travel industry, such as tourism and local transport. A smoother railway experience encourages more people to travel, which has a knock-on effect on other travel-related services, from hotels and restaurants to local transportation options. This broader impact demonstrates how efficient rail systems can drive positive changes across the entire travel economy.

The Future of Travel in India and Beyond

The steps taken by Indian Railways during the 2025 Diwali and Chhath festivals are part of a long-term vision to modernize and expand India’s transport network. The scale of these operations, combined with an increased focus on passenger comfort, highlights the direction in which Indian Railways is headed. With the infrastructure improvements, the focus on capacity expansion, and better passenger services, Indian Railways is poised to become a leader not just within India but globally, setting an example for how large-scale transport systems can adapt to meet growing demands.

These measures are likely to have long-term positive effects, ensuring that travel during busy periods, especially during Diwali and Chhath, will be more manageable and efficient. Moreover, the success witnessed during this festive season will likely lead to continued investments in rail infrastructure, both in India and potentially in other countries, aiming to create more efficient, reliable, and user-friendly transportation networks.

A New Benchmark in Railway Operations

The steps taken by Indian Railways during the 2025 Diwali and Chhath festivals set a new standard in managing large-scale passenger movements. The substantial increase in the number of special trains, coupled with improvements in station facilities and enhanced services, demonstrated how efficiently Indian Railways can handle large volumes of passengers during peak seasons.

This proactive approach will have lasting effects on Indian Railways and the broader travel industry, creating a better travel experience for millions of passengers in the future. Indian Railways continues to evolve and set a global example for how transportation systems can operate efficiently and improve the travel experience for passengers, even during the busiest periods of the year.