When flights ground to a halt, trains tend to step up, and that’s exactly what Indian Railways is doing right now.
As thousands of travellers continue to reel under widespread IndiGo flight cancellations, Indian Railways has announced the operation of 89 special trains over the next three days, offering a critical lifeline during one of the season’s busiest travel windows. The move, spanning all major railway zones, is designed to absorb the sudden surge in passenger demand triggered by five consecutive days of flight disruptions, winter travel pressure, and mounting backlogs at airports across the country.
The special services, adding up to over 100 train trips, were planned and rolled out at short notice after traffic assessments in high-density centres such as Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, Patna, Howrah and Hyderabad. For stranded passengers checking airport departure boards in despair, the railways have emerged as the most reliable Plan B.
The announcement comes at a time when airport terminals, particularly in metro cities, have seen growing crowds of passengers scrambling for alternatives after last-minute flight cancellations and delays. In response, railway zones swung into action by repurposing rolling stock, reallocating manpower, and squeezing in extra services wherever track capacity allowed.
Efforts have also been made to ensure travellers actually know about these trains. Several railway divisions have coordinated with airport authorities to display train information at terminals, while press releases and zone-wise schedules have been rolled out across regions. The message is clear: if the skies aren’t cooperating, the rails still are.
Importantly, officials have indicated that the number of special trains could be further increased if demand continues to rise, an acknowledgement of just how fluid the situation remains.
Central Railway has taken one of the biggest bites, announcing 14 special trains connecting Pune, Mumbai, Lucknow, Nagpur, Gorakhpur, Bilaspur and Bengaluru, among others. Busy corridors linking Mumbai with Delhi, the Konkan coast, and north India dominate the list, reflecting peak demand from flight-cancelled passengers and seasonal travellers alike.
Western Railway, meanwhile, has lined up seven special services, including long-haul routes such as Mumbai Central–Bhiwani, Mumbai Central–Shakur Basti, Bandra Terminus–Durgapura and Sabarmati–Delhi. Some of these trains will operate multiple trips through the month, extending relief beyond just the immediate three-day window.
Eastern and South Eastern Railways have focused on east-to-west and east-to-south connectivity, with specials running between Howrah, Sealdah, Santragachi, Shalimar, CSMT, New Delhi and Yelahanka. These routes are particularly crucial for passengers rerouted from cancelled long-distance flights.
South Central Railway has also pressed into service multiple specials linking Hyderabad, Secunderabad, Chennai and Mumbai—key alternatives for air travellers navigating the south-north corridor.
Beyond flight cancellations, the backdrop here is India’s annual winter travel rush. Migrant workers heading home, holiday travellers, and families moving between metros and tier-2 cities were already filling up trains before the aviation disruption intensified demand.
Railways in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh have accordingly added specials from Patna, Darbhanga, Gorakhpur and Prayagraj to Anand Vihar and Delhi, while North Central and Northern Railways are running additional services including Vande Bharat and long-haul specials connecting North and South India.
A handful of one-trip and short-run special fare trains have also been introduced by North Western Railway and other zones to plug specific gaps where demand spiked suddenly.
For now, Indian Railways is playing shock absorber to an aviation system under strain, quietly, methodically and at scale. For travellers watching their carefully laid plans wobble this week, that familiar whistle at the platform has rarely sounded more reassuring.
1. Why is Indian Railways running special trains right now?
Indian Railways has introduced special services to manage the surge in passengers caused by widespread IndiGo flight cancellations and the ongoing winter travel rush.
2. How many special trains have been announced and for how long?
A total of 89 special trains, making over 100 trips, will operate across multiple zones over a three-day period starting December 6.
3. Which cities and routes are covered by these special trains?
The services connect major hubs including Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Patna, Howrah and key routes linking north, south, east and west India.
4. Are these trains only for stranded air passengers?
No. While aimed at easing disruptions faced by flyers, the trains are open to all passengers during the winter peak travel period.
5. Will more special trains be added if disruptions continue?
Yes. Railways have indicated that additional services may be introduced depending on passenger demand and traffic conditions.