Indian Railways Unveils One Thousand Five Hundred Special Trains to Manage Increased Passenger Demand and Provide Hassle-Free Travel During the Festive Period

Published on February 16, 2026

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Indian Railways has unveiled plans to operate one thousand five hundred special trains during the upcoming festive period, aimed at managing the sharp increase in passenger demand. With millions of people set to travel during the busy holiday season, these special trains are designed to ease congestion on regular services and ensure smooth, hassle-free journeys for all passengers. The move is a direct response to the high demand typically experienced during festivals like Holi, when families reunite and travel across the country. By rolling out these additional trains, Indian Railways aims to provide a reliable and efficient mode of travel, ensuring that everyone can reach their destinations comfortably and on time. This initiative underscores the commitment of Indian Railways to passenger convenience and its proactive approach to handling the seasonal surge in travel.

As the festive season approaches, Indian Railways is preparing to meet the growing travel demands of millions of passengers with the launch of 1,500 special trains. This proactive initiative aims to ensure that people across the country can travel smoothly, comfortably, and safely during the busy holiday period.

With the holiday season, particularly around festivals like Holi, seeing a sharp increase in travel demand, Indian Railways has taken extensive measures to ensure that passengers can reach their destinations without any hassle. The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) division is at the forefront of this initiative, working diligently to provide reliable travel options across key routes in the country.

In anticipation of the surge in passenger numbers, NFR has already planned four pairs of special trains, running between February 18 and March 31. These trains are specifically designed to accommodate the heightened demand during this festive period, offering more seating and additional journeys to ensure that everyone has a chance to travel to their desired destinations in time for the celebrations.

The special train routes will include:

• Narangi-Gorakhpur-Narangi
• Katihar-Amritsar-Katihar
• Dibrugarh-Jhanjharpur-Dibrugarh
• Dibrugarh-Kolkata-Dibrugarh

These routes have been selected to connect critical destinations, alleviating pressure on the regular train services and ensuring that travel remains smooth for the large number of people who are eager to reunite with family or explore new places during the holiday season. Each special train will run at various intervals throughout the festive period, with numerous trips scheduled to accommodate as many passengers as possible.

Indian Railways has made these trains a priority to ensure that festive travelers experience less congestion and smoother journeys. By adding these additional services, the railways hope to minimize overcrowding and ensure that passengers can travel with ease and comfort, arriving at their destinations on time.

The complete schedule, including timings, stoppages, and more details, can be found on the official IRCTC website. The Northeast Frontier Railway is also keeping passengers informed via local newspapers and social media updates. To avoid any confusion, travelers are encouraged to verify the schedule and other relevant details before boarding their trains.

Special trains are a regular feature of Indian Railways’ strategy to provide better services during peak travel seasons. In fact, NFR frequently operates special trains during major festivals to facilitate travel across the eight northeastern states, West Bengal, and Bihar. This year, with Holi approaching, the additional trains will help ensure that millions of people in these regions, who travel to visit family or enjoy the festivities, can do so with ease.

The recent approval of a significant infrastructure project in Assam is expected to further improve travel experiences in the region. The 15.8-km twin-tube tunnel being built between Gohpur and Numaligarh will reduce travel time drastically—from six hours to just 20 minutes—by cutting the travel distance from 240 km to only 34 km. This infrastructure development will enhance regional connectivity, promote socio-economic growth, and make travel more convenient for residents and visitors alike.

Indian Railways has unveiled plans to operate one thousand five hundred special trains during the festive period to manage increased passenger demand and ensure smooth, hassle-free travel, particularly during peak seasons like Holi.

With the dual effort of adding special trains during festive seasons and improving regional infrastructure, Indian Railways continues to show its dedication to facilitating seamless travel across the country. Whether it’s through special festive trains or long-term projects, the focus remains on improving the travel experience for all passengers, making Indian Railways a more accessible and efficient mode of transportation.