Railways announces 1,244 Holi special trains to tackle festive rush

The Ministry of Railways has announced a massive festive travel plan with 1,244 Holi Special train trips to be operated by Indian Railways between February 25 and March 18, 2026 . The number could rise to 1,500 trips if passenger demand increases, as lakhs of travellers are expected to head home for Holi celebrations.

Bookings for these special trains have already begun and are being released in phases based on travel dates. Tickets can be reserved through railway reservation counters and the IRCTC online platform. Officials confirmed that the Tatkal quota will apply to these services, subject to seat availability, just like regular mail and express trains. In most cases, fares are similar to regular express services, although some trains may operate on a special fare basis , which could be slightly higher due to seasonal demand.

Apart from introducing special trains, Indian Railways has also attached additional general and sleeper coaches to several regular trains on high demand routes. This move is aimed at easing congestion, especially on routes connecting metro cities with Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand, which witness heavy passenger movement during festivals.

To manage the festive rush at major stations, the Railways has strengthened crowd control measures by deploying extra Railway Protection Force personnel and staff. Temporary holding areas, improved queue systems and regulated entry and exit arrangements have been introduced at busy terminals. Special ticket checking squads and on ground teams will monitor passenger flow to prevent overcrowding.