Indian Railways Runs 1,244 Holi Special Trains in 2026
Mumbai/Delhi:
Indian Railways has announced a massive schedule of 1,244 Holi Special trains across the country from February 25 to March 18, 2026, to ensure smooth, safe, and comfortable travel during the festival. If demand increases, the total number of trips may rise to 1,500.
The services will connect major cities, state capitals, and regional hubs, reducing congestion on regular trains and providing confirmed accommodation to passengers.
Key Highlights
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Total Holi Special Train Trips: 1,244 (may increase up to 1,500)
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East Central Railway: Highest number with 275 trips
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Northern Railway: 204 trips
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Central, Eastern, Southern, Western Railways operating additional services to manage festival rush
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Major routes include: Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Patna, New Delhi, and Howrah
Zone-wise Overview of Holi Specials
Central Railway (CR)
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Services: 20
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Total Trips: 129
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Major routes: Mumbai (CSMT & LTT), Pune, Nagpur → North & East India
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Examples:
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01469/01470: Pune–Nagpur–Pune, 25 Feb – 05 Mar 2026
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01079/01080: CSMT–Gorakhpur–CSMT, daily from 25 Feb – 08 Mar 2026
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East Coast Railway (ECoR)
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Services: 8
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Total Trips: 62
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Major routes: Visakhapatnam, Puri, Bhubaneswar → Eastern & Southern destinations
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Examples:
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08507/08508: Visakhapatnam–Shalimar, 03 Mar – 18 Mar 2026
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02831/02832: Bhubaneswar–Dhanbad, daily 25 Feb – 18 Mar 2026
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East Central Railway (ECR)
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Services: 50
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Total Trips: 275
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Connects Bihar & Jharkhand with Delhi, Mumbai, South India
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Examples:
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02563/02564: Barauni–New Delhi, daily 25 Feb – 18 Mar 2026
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03251/03252: Danapur–SMVT Bengaluru, daily 25 Feb – 18 Mar 2026
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Northern Railway (NR)
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Services: 48
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Total Trips: 204
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Routes: Delhi region → UP, Bihar, Uttarakhand, Punjab
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Examples:
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04052/04051: New Delhi–Howrah, daily 25 Feb – 08 Mar 2026
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04414/04413: Hazrat Nizamuddin–Mathura, daily
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Other Zones Overview
| Zone | Services | Trips | Key Routes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Railway (ER) | 22 | 48 | Howrah, Sealdah → Bihar, Delhi |
| North Central Railway (NCR) | 16 | 46 | UP → Maharashtra, Delhi |
| North Eastern Railway (NER) | 12 | 27 | Lal Kuan, Mau → Rajkot, Amritsar |
| North Frontier Railway (NFR) | 10 | 29 | Northeast India → Bihar, North India |
| North Western Railway (NWR) | 14 | 28 | Rajasthan → North & West India |
| South Central Railway (SCR) | 16 | 40 | Charlapalli, Tirupati → North, East India |
| South Eastern Railway (SER) | 28 | 107 | Santragachi, Shalimar → East, North, South |
| South East Central Railway (SECR) | 10 | 14 | Bilaspur, Durg → North & South India |
| Southern Railway (SR) | 12 | 31 | Chennai, Ernakulam → North & East India |
| South Western Railway (SWR) | 8 | 21 | SMVT Bengaluru, Mysuru → East & North India |
| West Central Railway (WCR) | 18 | 43 | Jabalpur, Kota, Rewa → West, South, Northeast |
| Western Railway (WR) | 32 | 120 | Mumbai, Ahmedabad → Bihar, UP, MP |
| Konkan Railway (KR) | 4 | 20 | Madgaon, LTT, Chiplun → Coastal regions |
Passenger Advisory & Tips
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Tickets available via IRCTC
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Confirm travel schedule before departure
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Plan early to avoid last-minute rush
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Check train frequency, as some trains run on specific weekdays
Summary
Indian Railways’ extensive Holi Special train schedule reflects its commitment to smooth and safe festival travel. The arrangement ensures connectivity across India’s regions, confirmed seating, and reduced congestion on regular services. Passengers can enjoy hassle-free travel while celebrating Holi 2026.