Summer Special Trains: Indian Railways to operate 18,262 special trips to reduce rush
Indian Railways announced the operation of 18,262 summer special train trips over the next three months to manage the extra crowd. These trains will run between April 15 and July 15, 2026, through 908 special trains. The goal is to provide more confirmed tickets and a comfortable journey for passengers during the peak summer season.
ℹ️: New Delhi Railway Station: Metro-style turnstile gates introduced to manage crowd and security।
Which zones will operate the most special trains?
The Ministry of Railways confirmed that Central Railway, East Central Railway, and North Western Railway will run the highest number of special trains. Other zones including Northern, Western, South Central, North Central, North Eastern, South Western, Southern, East Coast, West Central, Eastern, Northeast Frontier, South Eastern, and South East Central Railway will also operate these services.
What are the booking and operational details?
Out of the total trips, 11,294 trips from 660 trains have already been notified and are available for booking. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw reviewed the operations in New Delhi to ensure the plan is streamlined. These trains will help in reducing the waiting list and improving connectivity between major cities.
Which new train pairs were added recently?
The railways announced 7 new pairs of special trains starting from April 24, 2026. The details are as follows:
| Train Route | Type |
|---|---|
| Udhna – Samastipur | Summer Special |
| Udhna – Madhubani | Summer Special |
| Udhna – Malda Town | Summer Special |
| Gandhidham – Malda Town | Summer Special |
| Sabarmati – Asansol | Summer Special |
| Sultanpur – Dankuni | Summer Special |
While the move helps passengers, the All India Loco Running Staff Association noted that this increases the workload on staff, as around 37,000 Loco Pilot and Assistant Loco Pilot posts remain vacant.