Traveling Home for Holi Just Got Easier: 3 More Special Train Pairs Announced

Kokila Chokkanathan
With Holi 2026 (scheduled on Wednesday, 4 March) approaching fast, Indian Railways is stepping up efforts to ease the festive travel rush. After heavy demand and many regular trains being fully booked, the railways has now added three more pairs of holi special trains — offering passengers better chances of securing confirmed tickets for their journey home.

Why More Trains Are Being Added

Holi is one of India’s busiest travel periods, with millions of people heading to their hometowns from cities across the country. Confirmed tickets are increasingly hard to get on many regular trains due to high demand, prompting the railways to introduce additional services.

To give passengers more travel options and reduce pressure on existing services, the railways continues to expand its roster of special trains running between late february and mid‑March 2026.

What the New Trains Mean for You

✔ Three more pairs of holi special trains have been announced, adding to the growing list of holiday services already planned by indian Railways.
✔ These are intended to offer confirmed tickets and additional seating capacity on busy routes, especially where regular trains are fully booked.
✔ Many bookings are already open, and passengers can reserve seats through IRCTC’s website or app as well as railway reservation counters.

Wider Network of holi Specials

The new train pairs are part of a much larger effort by indian Railways to handle the holi travel rush:

  • Nearly nine pairs of long‑distance holi special trains have already been rolled out on key routes such as Puri–Patna, anand Vihar/Asansol to Gorakhpur and more.
  • 1,400+ holi special services are planned across the indian Railways network, covering connections between major cities like Delhi, Lucknow, Varanasi, and Ayodhya.
  • North Central Railway alone has scheduled 204 special train trips to facilitate festive travel across its jurisdiction.
These extensive arrangements aim to ensure that more passengers get a seat and a smoother journey home for the festival season.

Booking Tips for holi Travel

With high demand expected:

  • Book as early as possible on IRCTC — special trains are filling up quickly.
  • Check alternate routes or stations if your preferred train shows limited availability.
  • Consider AC and sleeper classes if unreserved coaches are fully booked.
  • Keep travel dates flexible (e.g., before Feb 28 or after March 4) to increase chances of confirmed seats.
In Summary

  • Indian Railways has announced three additional pairs of holi special trains, easing travel for festival season journeys.
  • This is part of a broader effort including over 1,400 festive services and region‑specific specials like those by North Central Railway.
  • Confirmed tickets are available on these special train services — but demand remains high, so early booking is recommended.
 

Disclaimer:

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any agency, organization, employer, or company. All information provided is for general informational purposes only. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, reliability, or suitability of the information contained herein. Readers are advised to verify facts and seek professional advice where necessary. Any reliance placed on such information is strictly at the reader’s own risk.

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