Indian Railways is gearing up for Holi 2026 with an unprecedented 1410 special train trips nationwide, targeting the festival exodus from urban hubs to hometowns. A special focus on Bihar and Uttar Pradesh sees East Central Railway rolling out 285 dedicated services between March 1 and 22.
This strategic move addresses the annual chaos of packed coaches and endless waitlists, offering respite to migrant workers and families reuniting for the colorful festival.
Standout schedules feature the bi-directional Sogaria-Danapur specials: Outbound 09821 on select Saturdays, covering key junctions; inbound 09822 on Mondays. Bhopal’s Rani Kamalapati connects to Danapur with 01667/01668 pairs timed for weekend convenience.
Extended routes extend the network’s reach: Weekly Rani Kamalapati-Agartala expresses link Madhya Pradesh to Northeast India, while Hapa-Naharlagun services bridge Gujarat to Arunachal through vital Bihar stops like Varanasi, Chhapra, and Hajipur.
Detailed timings ensure minimal disruptions— for instance, 01665 departs afternoons, arriving evenings after multi-day journeys. Passengers are advised to plan via official channels, using 139 for queries or NTES for real-time updates.
Cities like Delhi, Mumbai, and Bhopal will see eased pressure on platforms serving Hajipur, Danapur, Patliputra, and Barauni. This comprehensive plan not only boosts capacity but symbolizes Railways’ commitment to festive connectivity, letting colors of Holi light up homes without travel woes.