Northern Railway has announced a massive rollout of summer special train services and extensions to manage the heavy rush during the upcoming vacation season in 2026. These initiatives are designed to facilitate smooth travel for tourists, students heading home for holidays, and migrant workers. From extending existing services to Bihar and Jharkhand to launching new routes towards Mumbai and Jammu, the railway is preparing for a significant surge in passenger traffic.
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Which special trains are running for the summer season 2026?
Northern Railway and North Eastern Railway have coordinated several weekly services to connect major hubs across the country. These trains will operate from mid-April through July 2026 to ensure that the summer rush does not lead to heavy waitlists on regular trains. Detailed schedules for some of the prominent special routes are provided below.
| Train Number | Route | Operation Period | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| 04212 / 04226 | Sultanpur/Varanasi to LTT Mumbai | May 20 – July 15, 2026 | Weekly |
| 04624 / 04623 | Amritsar to Kolkata | April 13 – July 2, 2026 | Weekly |
| 04316 / 04315 | Rishikesh to Gorakhpur | April 21 – July 15, 2026 | Weekly |
| 04065 / 04066 | Khurda Road to Anand Vihar | April 20 – May 12, 2026 | Weekly |
| – | Pune to Hazrat Nizamuddin | April 17 – July 11, 2026 | Weekly |
What are the latest updates for Jammu and Bihar routes?
In a significant relief for passengers traveling to the eastern states, Northern Railway has extended the services of 14 pairs of special trains connecting Delhi to Bihar and Jharkhand until mid-July 2026. Additionally, specific arrangements have been made for the Jammu region. Due to recent weather-related issues on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, special trains between Srinagar and Katra have been scheduled from April 11 to April 15, 2026. To handle the high demand on premium routes, an additional 3AC coach will also be attached to the Rajdhani Express (12425/12426) during the peak April period. These measures aim to provide maximum convenience to tourists visiting the valley and pilgrims traveling to Vaishno Devi.
- Bihar Connectivity: 14 pairs of trains extended to manage congestion.
- Jammu Special: Srinagar-Katra special trains to bypass highway closures.
- Capacity Boost: Extra 3AC coach for Rajdhani Express from April 11 to April 24.
- Lucknow Hub: Three summer specials via Lucknow for Varanasi, Delhi, and Ayodhya.