The Railway Board has approved a series of special train services to manage the heavy passenger traffic during the Holi festival in 2026. Among these, the Valsad – Danapur Special (09025/09026) will provide a direct link for travelers between Gujarat and Bihar. Indian Railways is planning to operate nearly 1,500 special trips across the country this season to ensure passengers with waitlisted tickets find confirmed seats.
Schedule and Timings for Valsad – Danapur Special
The special service will operate for a total of six trips in each direction starting from late February 2026. The train features a mix of AC 2-Tier, AC 3-Tier, Sleeper, and General coaches to accommodate different budget requirements.
| Train Number | Departure Point | Frequency | Service Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| 09025 | Valsad (Mondays) | Weekly | 23/02/2026 to 30/03/2026 |
| 09026 | Danapur (Tuesdays) | Weekly | 24/02/2026 to 31/03/2026 |
Train 09025 departs Valsad at 08:40 AM and reaches Danapur at 12:00 PM the next day. On the return journey, Train 09026 leaves Danapur at 02:30 PM and arrives in Valsad at 09:30 PM the following night. Key halts include Bhestan, Nandurbar, Bhusaval, Itarsi, Satna, Prayagraj Chheoki, and Pt. DD Upadhyaya Jn.
Booking Rules and Fare Structure
Tickets for these special services are categorized under Special Fare Specials, which means the prices are slightly higher than regular express trains. Bookings for these services officially opened on February 18, 2026, through the IRCTC portal and PRS counters. General category passengers can also purchase unreserved tickets via the UTS system shortly before the train departure.
- Sleeper Class: ₹750 to ₹845
- AC 3-Tier: ₹1,895 to ₹2,155
- AC 2-Tier: ₹2,695
Western Railway CPRO Vineet Abhishek mentioned that these trains are strategically timed to help workers and families traveling back to their hometowns in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. Real-time monitoring of waitlists is being conducted to determine if additional coaches or clone trains are needed for peak travel dates. The peak rush is expected between February 28 and March 10, 2026.