Indian Railways has brought great news for passengers planning to visit home during the Holi festival in 2026. To manage the heavy rush of travelers, the Eastern Railway and East Central Railway have announced special trains connecting Bhagalpur to Delhi (Anand Vihar) and Surat (Udhna). This decision aims to control overcrowding at stations and ensure a safe journey for migrants returning to Bihar. The authorities have confirmed that these special services will operate with confirmed schedules during the peak festive period in February and March.
What are the routes and schedules for the Holi Special trains?
Several trains have been listed to run via Bhagalpur to major cities like Delhi and Surat. Passengers can check the specific dates and routes below to plan their travel accordingly.
- Malda Town – Anand Vihar Special (03435/03436): This train will pass through Bhagalpur, Kiul, Nawada, and Gaya. It departs from Malda on Mondays (March 2, 9, and 16, 2026). The train is scheduled to leave Bhagalpur at approximately 12:50 PM.
- Malda Town – Udhna Special (03417/03418): This service connects the Bhagalpur region directly to Surat. The train runs via Jamalpur, Patna, and Prayagraj Chheoki. It departs from Bhagalpur on Saturdays at 3:40 PM.
- Gandhidham – Bhagalpur Special (09451/09452): This train departs from Gandhidham every Friday from March 6 to March 27. The return trip from Bhagalpur starts every Monday from March 9 to March 30, covering the Gorakhpur and Muzaffarpur route.
How to book tickets and what are the fare rules?
Since these are designated as “Special Fare” trains, passengers should note that the ticket prices are typically 10% to 30% higher than regular express train rates. Booking is currently open and can be done via the IRCTC website, the RailConnect app, or at railway station counters. For those traveling in general coaches, tickets can be purchased using the UTS (Unreserved Ticketing System) app.
Railway officials have advised passengers to use the 139 helpline or the NTES portal for real-time status updates, as special trains may sometimes experience minor schedule adjustments. Emergency medical teams and extra crowd management staff will also be deployed at major stations like Anand Vihar to handle the rush starting from February 28.