Indian Railways has significantly ramped up its special train operations and adjusted existing services to accommodate a surge of pilgrims for ongoing events like the Shravani, Sawan, and Kanwar Melas. To ensure seamless travel for devotees, railway zones across the country have introduced new routes and temporary operational changes to connect major cities directly to pilgrimage hubs.
Key highlights of the recent railway updates include:
• East Central Railway (ECR) has launched **12 pairs (24 trains)** of Shravani Mela Special services.
• New special train services connect cities like Patna, Jaynagar, Raxaul, Ranchi, Gorakhpur, Howrah, and Asansol to Deoghar and Sultanganj.
• **Train No. 03527 (Asansol to Gorakhpur)** will operate daily from July 29 to August 29, 2026.
• **Train No. 03297 (Patna-Islampur)** and **Train No. 03001 (Howrah-Natesar)** have begun thrice-weekly operations until late September 2026.
• Temporary two-minute halts have been introduced at **Raywala, Motichur, and Jwalapur stations** through August 13, 2026.
Strategic Connectivity for Pilgrims
The East Central Railway is leading the charge in managing the festive rush. Beyond the aforementioned routes, North Central Railway and Northern Railway have bolstered their MEMU and DEMU services to facilitate travel to prominent Jyotirlingas, including Kashi Vishwanath, Mahakaleshwar, and Somnath, as well as the busy Haridwar-Rishikesh circuit. Additionally, two pairs of daily unreserved Shravani Mela Special trains are now running between Prayagraj-Banaras and Subedarganj-Aunrihar to manage local passenger flow.
Operational Adjustments and Safety Advisories
Railway operations have also been dynamic in response to weather-related challenges. On July 23 and 24, 2026, the Northern Railway’s Jammu Division successfully operated special trains between Srinagar and Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra to assist over **600 passengers** stranded due to highway closures caused by heavy rainfall.
Conversely, heavy rains necessitated service disruptions in Western India. On July 24, 2026, Western Railway was forced to **cancel 15 trains** and partially cancel or reschedule others on critical routes connecting Mumbai, Surat, Valsad, and Ahmedabad.
Senior Divisional Commercial Manager Shri Uchit Singhal has urged all passengers to prioritize safety and stay informed. Travelers are advised to verify their train status via the **NTES app, the official IRCTC website, or by dialing the 139 helpline** before heading to the station to avoid last-minute inconvenience.