With Holi scheduled for 4 March 2026, travel demand on North Eastern Railway routes has climbed sharply as people plan festival journeys.
In response to this surge, the railway zone has decided to introduce 62 special Holi trains running between 1 March and 22 March to handle the extra passengers.
North Eastern Railway Announces 62 Special Trains as Holi 2026 Travel Demand Surges
These special services will depart from major stations such as Gorakhpur, Lucknow, Banaras, Kathgodam, and Chhapra, connecting travellers to large metropolitan cities like Delhi, Mumbai, and Kolkata.
Reservation data shows that most regular long-distance trains on these routes are already fully booked, with many services showing no available seats in any class.
Trains heading to Gorakhpur from Delhi and Mumbai before Holi have long waiting lists, while after the festival, trains leaving Gorakhpur for these cities are also heavily booked.
Railway officials have confirmed that the initial plan includes 62 Holi special trains operating from 1 March to 22 March, but the schedule remains adjustable depending on demand.
If passenger numbers exceed expectations, the railway administration is prepared to increase the frequency of these Holi special services.
Gorakhpur will experience the highest concentration of special trains, with around a dozen services primarily heading towards Delhi and Amritsar.
CPRO Pankaj Kumar Singh Confirms Extra Holi Travel Options from Gorakhpur, Lucknow, Banaras, Kathgodam and Chhapra
CPRO Pankaj Kumar Singh has stated that passengers travelling from Gorakhpur, Lucknow, Banaras, Kathgodam, and Chhapra will benefit from additional travel options during the festival period.
These special trains are intended to strengthen connectivity between eastern Uttar Pradesh, nearby regions of Bihar, and major national hubs including Delhi, Mumbai, and Kolkata, along with several other cities.
Special services from key Bihar stations are also planned to operate around the Holi period to accommodate festival-related travel.
Booking records between 25 February and 2 March reveal that almost no seats are available for travel into Gorakhpur from Delhi and Mumbai.
After Holi, trains departing Gorakhpur for Delhi and Mumbai show fully booked status from 5 March to 15 March across nearly all travel classes.
To manage the heavy rush at Gorakhpur Junction, North Eastern Railway will set up a dedicated passenger holding area starting 25 February.
This holding space is designed to regulate queues and prevent overcrowding on platforms during peak festival travel days.
The arrangement aims to make boarding smoother for passengers travelling on both regular trains and Holi special services.
Several key trains operating between Delhi, Mumbai, and Gorakhpur are already completely booked in all classes during the pre-Holi travel window.
A similar pattern of full bookings is visible in the post-Holi travel period for trains departing Gorakhpur.
The Gorakhdham Superfast, running between Bathinda and Gorakhpur, is fully booked from 24 February to 2 March for journeys towards Gorakhpur, and from 5 March to 15 March for return trips.
The Sampark Kranti Superfast, operating on the New Delhi–Gorakhpur–Darbhanga route, shows complete bookings from 24 February to 2 March in the pre-Holi direction and from 5 March to 15 March after the festival.
The Vaishali Express, connecting New Delhi, Gorakhpur, and Lalit Gram, is also fully reserved between 24 February and 2 March towards Gorakhpur and from 5 March to 15 March in the reverse direction.
The Kushinagar Express, running between Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (LTT) and Gorakhpur, is similarly fully booked from 24 February to 2 March before Holi and from 5 March to 15 March after Holi.
In addition to the Holi specials around 4 March, North Eastern Railway has arranged a one-time long-distance service, train number 05009, connecting Azamgarh and Yashvantpur via Gorakhpur.
This special train, numbered 05009, will operate as a single trip on 11 February.
According to CPRO Pankaj Kumar Singh, the railway has released the complete timetable and coach details for this one-time service.
Train 05009 is scheduled to depart from Azamgarh at 05:05 on 11 February.
It will reach Gorakhpur railway station at 08:50 on the same day.
After departing Gorakhpur, the train is expected to arrive at Yashvantpur railway station at 10:30 the following morning.
The Azamgarh–Yashvantpur special will run with a total of 17 coaches.
Overall figures indicate exceptionally high seasonal demand across North Eastern Railway routes during Holi 2026.
The introduction of 62 Holi special trains, the possibility of additional trips if required, and crowd-control measures at Gorakhpur Junction are all intended to reduce pressure on already fully booked regular services connecting Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, eastern Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar.
