Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) in coordination with South Western Railway (SWR) has started operating special trains to manage the heavy passenger rush during the Holi 2026 festival season. Train number 06571, running from Yesvantpur Junction to Katihar Junction, successfully completed its inaugural trip on March 10, 2026. According to NFR officials, these special services aim to provide relief to passengers traveling across Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, West Bengal, and Bihar.
Train Timings and Operational Dates
The Holi Special Express will operate a total of four trips in each direction. High occupancy has already been reported for the initial trips, with waitlists active for various classes. Passengers are advised to book tickets through the IRCTC website or PRS counters as early as possible. Final charts are prepared 3 to 4 hours before the departure from the respective stations.
| Train Number | From – To | Departure Day | Dates of Operation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 06571 | Yesvantpur to Katihar | Tuesday (07:00) | March 10, 17, 24, 31 |
| 06572 | Katihar to Yesvantpur | Friday (05:15) | March 13, 20, 27, April 03 |
Coach Composition and Ticket Pricing
The train consists of 20 coaches, including one AC 2-Tier, three AC 3-Tier, nine Sleeper Class, and five General Second Class coaches. Since these are Special Fare trains, the ticket prices are slightly higher than regular express services. NFR CPRO Kapinjal Kishore Sharma confirmed that Indian Railways is running 1,500 such special services nationwide this year to facilitate safe travel during the festival.
| Class | Approximate Fare |
|---|---|
| AC 2-Tier (2A) | Rs 3,655 |
| AC 3-Tier (3A) | Rs 2,615 |
| Sleeper Class (SL) | Rs 1,060 |
| General Second Class (GS) | Rs 442 |
The train will make major halts at Dharmavaram Junction, Vijayawada Junction, Bhubaneswar, Andul, and Rampurhat. Other intermediate stops include Yelahanka, Hindupur, Anantapur, Guntur, Rajahmundry, Vizianagaram, Kharagpur, Malda Town, and Kumedpur. This route covers approximately 33 stations, providing connectivity to multiple regional hubs.