Indian Railways Operates 1,244 Holi Special Train Trips; Over 37 Lakh Passengers Travel Across Zones

New Delhi, March 2, 2026: Indian Railways has successfully facilitated festive travel for millions of passengers heading home for Holi, operating an extensive network of special trains, strengthening crowd management, and enhancing passenger amenities across railway zones.

Between February 25 and March 18, 2026, a total of 1,244 Holi Special train trips are being operated nationwide, with the number likely to increase to 1,500 depending on demand.

Northern Railway: 14 Lakh Passengers in Five Days

Northern Railway witnessed heavy passenger movement, particularly from the Delhi area toward eastern India.

14 lakh passengers travelled from Delhi in the last five days
3.36 lakh passengers departed on March 1 alone
22 special trains originated from Delhi on March 1
22 additional special trains planned for March 3

At Anand Vihar Terminal, arrangements such as designated holding areas, help desks, catering stalls and additional ticket counters ensured smooth passenger flow. Authorities reported an 18.07% increase in outward passengers compared to the corresponding pre-Holi day last year.

Western Railway: 23 Lakh Passengers in Three Days

Western Railway facilitated travel for 23,03,445 passengers over three days:

February 27: 13,66,545 passengers
February 28: 4,51,604 passengers
March 1: 4,85,296 passengers

Around 20,000 passengers departed from Udhna station on March 1 alone. In response to heavy rush and heat, Western Railway distributed nearly 3,000 bottled drinking water units at Udhna station.

South Central Railway: 195 Special Trains Announced

South Central Railway announced 195 special trains from the last week of February through March.

26 special trains operated between February 21 and March 2
Over 50,000 passengers travelled during this period
9 special trains ran on March 1 and 2 carrying around 15,000 passengers

Special services operated from Secunderabad, Charlapalli and Tirupati to destinations such as Raxaul, Nizamuddin, Kollam, Danapur and Bhubaneswar.

Central Railway: Systematic Crowd Management

Central Railway implemented structured queue systems and enhanced security at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, ensuring safe boarding and de-boarding during peak hours. Passengers appreciated the systematic arrangements and on-ground guidance.

North Western, Eastern and East Central Railways Step Up

North Western Railway is operating a record number of special trains with round-the-clock monitoring and strengthened security measures.

Eastern Railway ensured smooth crowd management at Howrah Railway Station, where passengers travelling toward Samastipur praised the coordinated efforts of Railway Protection Force personnel and staff.

East Central Railway augmented services and introduced additional Holi Special trains to ensure confirmed seats and reduce congestion on regular routes.

Passenger-Centric Measures Enhance Experience

Across zones, the Railways implemented:

Automatic Ticket Vending Machines (ATVMs)
Dedicated holding areas
Real-time electronic display systems
Distribution of bottled drinking water
Deployment of Railway Protection Force personnel
Dedicated war rooms for real-time monitoring

These coordinated measures ensured safe, timely and comfortable journeys for working professionals, students and families returning home for Holi.

Indian Railways continues to closely monitor passenger demand and remains committed to providing efficient and passenger-friendly services during peak festive seasons.