Indian Railways Operates Special Trains For Raksha Bandhan Travel Rush
Northern Railway and West Central Railway are running special trains to manage the massive passenger rush for the upcoming Raksha Bandhan festival on August 28, 2026. Passengers traveling toward Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal can now utilize additional services as regular long-distance trains report long waitlists and full reservations. The peak travel rush is anticipated between August 26 and August 27, 2026, with major services like the Lucknow Mail, Padmavat Express, and Delhi-Ayodhya Express already reaching full capacity.
Northern Railway has announced the operation of 14 special trains originating from the Delhi-NCR region to clear the festival rush. At the same time, West Central Railway (WCR) has scheduled 47 special train services across five key corridors including Rewa-Bhopal, Jabalpur-Delhi, Kota-Nizamuddin, Sogariya-Mathura, and Sogariya-Jabalpur, running from August 22 through August 31. Madhur Verma, Chief Public Relations Officer of WCR, confirmed that these special services aim to alleviate heavy pressure on high-demand routes. Notable trains include the Jabalpur–Hazrat Nizamuddin Special (01701/01702) and the Kota–Hazrat Nizamuddin Special (09803/09804), with extensive connectivity spanning Subedarganj, Shakur Basti, New Delhi, Kanpur Central, Anand Vihar Terminal, Ghaziabad, and Aligarh.Multi Modal Transport Support For Commuters
In addition to Indian Railways operations, alternative transport networks are stepping up to assist travelers. The National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) will facilitate smoother regional transit by adding 47 Namo Bharat train trips on the Delhi-Meerut corridor on August 27 and 28, boosting train frequencies to every eight minutes. Furthermore, for road commuters, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has declared free bus transportation for women and one accompanying person, starting from 6 AM on August 27 until midnight on August 29.