Holi 2026: Central Railways Launches 186 Special Trains From Mumbai, Pune, Patna, And More

The festival of Holi is around the corner. With that, travel demand across India is surging as people plan trips to reunite with family and friends. The festival sees one of the heaviest passenger movements of the year, particularly from major urban centres in North and West India to hometowns across the country. In anticipation of the festive rush, Central Railway has rolled out 186 additional special train services, strengthening connectivity from key cities including Mumbai and Pune to several prominent destinations nationwide, helping ease congestion and improve seat availability during the peak holiday window.Passengers started buying tickets from February 18 on the official online portal and at railway booking counters. Train departures are scheduled across multiple dates and time slots. Here’s a look at the Holi special train services set to run during the festive period.Holi Special Train RoutesThe additional services will operate from Mumbai to key destinations including Nagpur, Sawantwadi Road, Banaras, Gorakhpur, Samastipur and Danapur. These routes are popular in the run-up to the festival each year. More trains have also been scheduled between Pune and Nagpur, as well as between Hazrat Nizamuddin and Danapur. Both corridors typically experience high passenger volumes during the festive period.Of the total 186 special trains, 94 will operate as Holi Specials, while 92 have been introduced as Other Special Services. The line-up includes overnight, same-day and staggered departures to ease congestion and manage peak festive traffic.Wider Coverage Across Key RoutesThe additional trains will pass through important junctions and stations along their routes. Short-distance and same-day travellers can also travel unreserved - tickets can be booked via UTS and RailOne. The services cover corridors that see significant movement during Holi, improving access to hometowns and major regional hubs.Alongside earlier announcements, fresh special trains will run linking Pune, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Sri Ganganagar and key destinations in Bihar, helping passengers reach home ahead of the festival. One such service, Train No. 01481 Pune–Danapur Special, will operate every Monday and Friday from 23 February to 6 March. It departs Pune at 7:55 pm and reaches Danapur at 8:00 am, with stops at DDU, Buxar and Ara.Pune–Danapur Holi SpecialsTrain 01482 (Danapur–Pune) – Operates Wednesdays and Sundays from 25 Feb to 8 Mar, leaving Danapur at 10:00 am and reaching Pune next day at 6:15 pm, with stops at Ara, Buxar and DDU.Train 01449 (Pune–Danapur) – Runs daily from 21 Feb to 8 Mar, departing Pune at 3:30 pm and arriving at Danapur at 2:45 am, halting at DDU, Buxar and Ara.Train 01450 (Danapur–Pune) – Daily service from 23 Feb to 10 Mar, leaving Danapur at 5:00 am and reaching Pune next day at 6:15 pm, calling at Ara, Buxar and DDU.Ahmedabad–Bihar Holi SpecialsPatna–Ahmedabad: Train 09447 (Ahmedabad–Patna) will run every Wednesday until 25 March, while Train 09448 (Patna–Ahmedabad) operates every Friday until 27 March, both following their regular schedule and halts.Darbhanga–Ahmedabad: Train 09465 (Ahmedabad–Darbhanga) will run every Friday until 27 March, and Train 09466 (Darbhanga–Ahmedabad) will operate every Monday until 30 March, maintaining usual timings and stops.Mumbai–Samastipur Holi SpecialsTrain 01043 (Lokmanya Tilak–Samastipur) – Runs on 24 Feb and 3 Mar, departing Mumbai at 12:15 am and arriving Samastipur at 11:45 pm, with stops at DDU, Patliputra and Hajipur.Train 01044 (Samastipur–Lokmanya Tilak) – Operates on 26 Feb and 5 Mar, leaving Samastipur at 3:00 am and reaching Mumbai next day at 4:25 pm, halting at Hajipur, Patliputra and DDU.(With inputs from various sources.)FAQsHow many special trains are running for Holi this year?A total of 186 special trains have been announced, including 94 Holi Specials and 92 other special services, covering major routes across India.Which cities are connected through these Holi special trains?Key routes include Mumbai, Pune, Ahmedabad, Patna, Danapur, Darbhanga, Samastipur and major regional hubs in Bihar and Maharashtra.When did ticket bookings for these special trains start?Bookings opened on 18 February and are available both online and at railway reservation counters, including unreserved tickets through UTS and RailOne.Are there daily and weekly services available?Yes, several trains will run daily (e.g., Pune–Danapur 01449/01450), while others will operate on specific days of the week.Do the special trains stop at all major junctions?Most services cover important junctions and high-traffic stations such as DDU, Buxar, Ara, Patliputra, Hajipur, ensuring easy access to hometowns and regional centres.Hola Mohalla: When Nihang Sikhs In Punjab Celebrate Holi With Martial Arts