Indian Railways Adds 1,500 Holi Specials On Delhi, Lucknow, Varanasi Routes

If your Holi plans involve a long train ride home—with a box of gujiyas in hand and colours waiting at the other end—Indian Railways has some timely news. To ease the annual festive rush, the national transporter is rolling out a record number of Holi Special trains this year, opening bookings on several high-demand routes and significantly increasing capacity across zones. With travel demand already peaking for late February and March departures, the move is designed to make the journey back to family smoother, safer and, ideally, less frantic.

Festival Rush Relief

For Holi 2026, Indian Railways has planned the operation of more than 1,410 special train trips across its network, a number expected to rise to nearly 1,500 depending on passenger demand. This marks a substantial jump from last year’s 1,144 Holi special services, signalling both rising travel appetite and the Railways’ attempt to stay ahead of the curve.

These trains will run largely through March, connecting major cities and high-footfall corridors across north, east and western India. The services are being introduced to decongest regular trains, many of which see waitlists stretching into the hundreds during the festive window. The additional trains will include a mix of fully air-conditioned services, trains with AC, Sleeper and General coaches, as well as unreserved specials, ensuring options across budgets and travel preferences.

Zone-wise, the East Central Railway will operate the highest number of Holi special trains at 285, underlining the heavy demand on eastern routes. Western Railway follows with 231 services, and Central Railway with 209. South Central Railway has planned 160 trains, while Northern Railway will operate 108. North Western Railway has scheduled 71 services, North Central Railway 66, and both North Eastern Railway and East Coast Railway will run 62 each. South Western Railway will operate 47 trains, West Central Railway 43, Southern Railway 39, South East Central Railway 15, Konkan Railway 9, and Northeast Frontier Railway 2. The scale reflects how widespread the festive migration truly is.

Key Routes Announced

Among the early announcements are several special trains linking Lucknow, Delhi, Varanasi, Ayodhya, Chandigarh and Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra—routes that traditionally witness intense Holi traffic.

Train No. 04203 Special will depart Lucknow at 8:05 am on February 23 and March 2, reaching New Delhi at 6:30 pm the same day. Its return counterpart, Train No. 04204 Special, will leave New Delhi at 8:20 pm on the same dates and arrive in Lucknow at 6:35 am the following morning.

Daily connectivity has also been strengthened. Train No. 04209 Special will run from February 24 to March 6, departing Varanasi at 10:30 pm, halting at Lucknow at 3:30 am, and reaching Delhi at 1:30 pm. In the opposite direction, Train No. 04210 Special will operate daily from February 25 to March 7, leaving Delhi at 7:25 pm and arriving in Varanasi at 9:40 am after passing through Lucknow.

Ayodhya Cantt to Anand Vihar services have been scheduled on select dates with Train No. 04213 departing at 6:20 pm on February 24, 26 and March 1, 3 and 5, reaching Anand Vihar at 6:00 am. The return service, Train No. 04214, will run from Anand Vihar on February 25, 27 and March 2, 4 and 6, reaching Varanasi via Lucknow the same evening.

Additional links include Varanasi–Chandigarh specials (Train Nos. 04227 and 04228) operating on select February and March dates, and services connecting Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra to Varanasi (Train No. 04604) via Lucknow. Another notable addition is Train No. 04014 Special, which will depart Anand Vihar between February 27 and March 6 at 3:40 pm, reach Lucknow past midnight and arrive at Laukaha Bazar the following evening.

Plan Your Journey

The underlying message is clear: book early. With schools closing for the festival and offices aligning leave calendars around Holi, demand is already surging. Indian Railways has indicated that more special trains may be introduced depending on passenger response, but confirmed services are expected to fill quickly.

Beyond numbers, this annual exercise is about something more familiar—the great Indian homecoming. Every Holi, cities empty out as people travel back to small towns and villages, returning with suitcases full of sweets and stories. By ramping up operations to over 1,400 special services, Indian Railways is attempting to make that journey less stressful and more predictable.

For travellers, it means more seats, more route options, and a better chance of securing confirmed tickets during one of the busiest travel periods of the year. And if all goes to plan, the only colour you’ll need to worry about this March is the one waiting at your doorstep—not the red of a never-ending waitlist.

(With inputs from various sources.)

FAQs

1. How many Holi special trains will run this year?
Indian Railways has planned over 1,410 Holi special train trips, with the number expected to go up to nearly 1,500 based on demand.

2. When will these Holi special trains operate?
Most services are scheduled to run between late February and throughout March 2026, covering the peak festive travel window.

3. Which major routes are covered under the Holi specials?
Key routes include Delhi, Lucknow, Varanasi, Ayodhya, Chandigarh, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra, Laukaha Bazar and several parts of Bihar.

4. What types of coaches will be available on these trains?
The special trains will include AC-only services, as well as trains with AC, Sleeper, General and unreserved coaches.

5. How can passengers book tickets for Holi special trains?
Tickets can be booked through the IRCTC website, mobile app, or at railway reservation counters. Early booking is strongly recommended due to high demand.