Special Train Lineup
To accommodate the surge in travel anticipated for the Holi festival, Central Railway has strategically planned and will be operating a series of special
trains originating from Pune. These additional services are part of a larger network of 186 special trains being deployed across the country. Specifically, the Pune division will be running dedicated services to popular destinations including Danapur, Gorakhpur, Hazrat Nizamuddin, Ghazipur, and Nagpur. These special trains are scheduled to run between February 21 and March 10, 2026, offering much-needed capacity and convenience for travelers heading home or to celebrate the festival. Passengers can secure their seats starting February 18, through the established booking channels, ensuring ample time to make arrangements for their Holi journeys.
Pune-Danapur Services
For the Pune-Danapur route, two distinct special train services are being offered. The daily service, train number 01449, will depart Pune at 3:30 pm from February 21 to March 8, reaching Danapur on the third day at 2:45 am. Its return counterpart, train number 01450, commences its journey from Danapur daily at 5:00 am starting February 23 and concluding on March 10, arriving back in Pune by 6:15 pm the following day. The key halts for these services include Daund, Ahilyanagar, Kopargaon, Manmad, Bhusaval, Itarsi, Jabalpur, Katni, Satna, Manikpur, Prayagraj Chheoki, Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Junction, Buxar, and Ara. Initially, these will operate as Special Trains from February 21 to March 2, encompassing 16 services, and will then transition to run as Holi Specials from March 1 to March 10, also comprising 16 services. Complementing this is a bi-weekly service, train number 01481, departing Pune every Monday and Friday at 7:55 pm from February 23 to March 6. This train reaches Danapur at 8:00 am on the third day. The return leg, train number 01482, leaves Danapur every Wednesday and Sunday at 10:00 am from February 25 to March 8, arriving in Pune by 6:15 pm the subsequent day. These bi-weekly services will function as Special Trains from February 23 to March 1 and then as Holi Specials from March 2 to March 8.
Pune-Gorakhpur Express
Travelers heading to Gorakhpur from Pune will benefit from a daily special train service, numbered 01415. This train is set to depart Pune daily at 6:50 am, commencing its operations from February 21 through March 8. It is scheduled to reach Gorakhpur at 4:00 pm on the following day. The return journey, managed by train number 01416, will depart from Gorakhpur daily at 5:30 pm from February 22 until March 9, with its arrival back in Pune slated for 3:15 am on the third day of its journey. The route includes a number of significant stops such as Daund Chord Cabin, Ahilyanagar, Kopargaon, Manmad, Bhusaval, Khandwa, Itarsi, Rani Kamlapati, Bina, Virangana Lakshmibai Jhansi, Orai, Kanpur Central, Lucknow, Gonda, and Basti. These services will initially operate as general Special Trains from February 21 to March 1, and subsequently transition to become Holi Specials from March 1 to March 9, ensuring consistent connectivity during the festive period.
Pune-Ghazipur Route
For those bound for Ghazipur City from Pune, a bi-weekly special train, identified as train number 01431, will operate. This service is scheduled to depart Pune every Tuesday and Friday, starting February 24 and concluding on March 6, at 6:40 am. The arrival at Ghazipur City is expected at 7:05 pm on the subsequent day. The return journey, facilitated by train number 01432, will depart from Ghazipur City every Thursday and Sunday. These departures will begin on February 26 and end on March 8, at 4:20 am, with the train reaching Pune by 4:20 pm on the same day of its departure. These special services are designed to cater to the festive rush, initially running as Special Trains from February 24 to March 1, and then as dedicated Holi Specials from March 3 to March 8, ensuring availability for travelers throughout the crucial period.
Pune to Nizamuddin
A weekly special train service connects Pune to Hazrat Nizamuddin, designated as train number 01491. This train will depart from Pune every Friday, specifically on February 27 and March 6, at 5:30 pm, arriving at its destination, Hazrat Nizamuddin, at 8:00 pm the following day. The return service, train number 01492, will depart from Hazrat Nizamuddin every Saturday, on February 28 and March 7, at 9:25 pm, reaching Pune by 11:55 pm on the next day. The journey includes significant halts at Lonavala, Kalyan, Bhiwandi Road, Vasai Road, Vapi, Surat, Vadodara, Ratlam, Kota, Sawai Madhopur, Bharatpur, and Mathura Junction. These services are structured to operate as general Special Trains on February 27–28 and will then be designated as Holi Specials for the dates March 6–7, providing convenient travel options for passengers during the festive season.
Pune-Nagpur Specials
Central Railway is offering not one, but two weekly special train services between Pune and Nagpur to manage the Holi travel demand. The first service, train number 01469, departs Pune every Tuesday at 3:50 pm on February 24 and March 3, arriving in Nagpur at 6:30 am the next day. Its return service, train number 01470, leaves Nagpur every Wednesday, on February 25 and March 4, at 8:00 am, reaching Pune by 11:30 pm on the same day. The second weekly service, train number 01457, departs Pune every Wednesday at 3:50 pm, on February 25 and March 4, also arriving in Nagpur at 6:30 am the following morning. The corresponding return train, number 01458, departs Nagpur every Thursday, on February 26 and March 5, at 8:00 am, arriving back in Pune by 11:30 pm the same day. Key halts for these Nagpur-bound trains include Uruli, Daund Chord Line, Ahilyanagar, Belapur, Kopergaon, Manmad, Jalgaon, Bhusaval, Malkapur, Shegaon, Akola, Badnera, Dhamangaon, and Wardha. These services will operate as Special Trains on February 24–25 (for the first set) and February 25–26 (for the second set), transitioning to Holi Specials on March 3–4 and March 4–5 respectively.
Booking and Travel Info
For all passengers planning to travel on these special Pune-originating trains, booking facilities are readily available starting February 18. Tickets can be purchased conveniently from computerised reservation centres across the network. Alternatively, passengers can opt for online bookings through the official IRCTC website or by using the RailOne mobile application. For those who prefer unreserved travel, coaches will be available with normal charges processed through the UTS (Unreserved Ticketing System). This multi-pronged booking approach ensures accessibility for a wide range of travelers, allowing them to secure their seats in advance and plan their Holi celebrations without the added stress of last-minute travel arrangements.
