Indian Railways has announced a record 1,500 special trains for Holi 2026 to help migrants returning to Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Jharkhand. This is a 23 percent increase compared to the previous year. Despite these extra services, popular trains from Faridabad and Delhi-NCR are already seeing waiting lists reach 200 for peak travel dates between February 28 and March 2. Authorities are monitoring the situation to tackle illegal ticketing while private bus operators have hiked fares significantly.
How many special trains are running and what is the ticket status?
Northern Railway and East Central Railway are leading the operations with hundreds of special trips. Most Holi special trains are scheduled to run between February 15 and March 31. Tickets for popular trains like the Vaishali Express and Bihar Sampark Kranti have already reached a waiting list of 150 to 200 for sleeper and third AC classes. Many travel dates are already showing a regret status, meaning no more bookings can be made.
| Zone Name | Number of Special Trains |
|---|---|
| East Central Railway (ECR) | 285 Trains |
| Western Railway (WR) | 231 Trains |
| Central Railway (CR) | 209 Trains |
| Northern Railway (NR) | 300+ Special Trips |
What are the alternative options and safety measures for passengers?
Passengers who do not get a train seat are turning to private buses from Delhi and Badarpur. These private operators are charging between 2,200 to 5,000 rupees for travel to cities like Patna and Siwan. To assist travelers, the Railway Protection Force has launched Operation Upalabdh to catch ticket touts who sell tickets at double the price. Additionally, medical emergency wards and ambulances have been put on standby at major Delhi stations to handle the massive crowds.
- Special train fares are roughly 1.3 times higher than regular rates due to tatkal charges.
- If an e-ticket remains waitlisted after the chart is prepared, it is not valid for travel.
- Railway officials recommend using the Vikalp option on IRCTC for better chances of seat allotment.
- RPF claims a 78 percent reduction in touting cases but ground reports show active illegal agents.