Expanded Network, Easy Bookings
To ease the anticipated surge in travel during the 2026 Holi celebrations, Central Railway has orchestrated the introduction of 186 special train services.
These additional trains are strategically planned to serve a wide array of destinations, ensuring greater accessibility for travelers. Ticket reservations for these special services will commence on February 18th, accessible through all authorized computerized reservation centers and the official IRCTC website, providing ample opportunity for passengers to secure their travel plans well in advance. For bookings extending beyond the standard Advanced Reservation Period (ARP), subsequent ARP dates will be applicable, offering flexibility. Furthermore, passengers seeking unreserved travel can utilize the UTS system, and the RailOne mobile application is also available for convenient ticket purchases, as highlighted by Dr. Swapnil Nila, Chief Public Relations Officer of Central Railway, in a released statement.
Key Routes Unveiled
Central Railway's special train operations will span extensive routes, connecting major hubs like Mumbai and Pune with various cities including Nagpur, Sawantwadi Road, Banaras, Gorakhpur, Samastipur, and Danapur. This comprehensive network also includes services to Hazrat Nizamuddin and Ghazipur City. The total of 186 services are categorized into 94 Holi Special Trains and 92 general Special Trains, aimed at efficiently managing the passenger influx during the festive period. The services range from daily operations to bi-weekly and weekly frequencies, ensuring diverse travel options for passengers departing from both CSMT (Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus) and Pune. The initiative is designed to offer a seamless travel experience, alleviating the typical travel challenges associated with peak festival seasons.
Mumbai-Nagpur Connectivity
The CSMT-Nagpur route will benefit from bi-weekly special services, with train number 02141 departing CSMT every Sunday and Tuesday at 00:20 hrs from February 22nd to March 8th, 2026, arriving in Nagpur the same day at 15:10 hrs. The return service, 02142, leaves Nagpur on Sundays and Tuesdays at 20:00 hrs during the same period, reaching CSMT the following day at 13:30 hrs. These services include a mix of 4 general special services and 6 Holi special services. The train composition features 1 AC-2 Tier, 6 AC-3 Tier, 9 Sleeper Class coaches, along with 4 General Second Class and 2 General Second Class cum Guard's brake vans, providing comfortable travel options. Intermediate halts are scheduled at Dadar, Thane, Kalyan, Nashik Road, Manmad, Jalgaon, Bhusaval, Malkapur, Shegaon, Akola, Murtizapur, Badnera, Dhamangaon, and Wardha.
Coastal and Eastern Access
For travelers heading towards the Konkan coast, CSMT will operate weekly special services to Sawantwadi Road. Train 01171 departs CSMT on Thursdays, February 26th and March 5th, 2026, arriving at Sawantwadi Road by 12:30 hrs the same day. The return journey, train 01172, departs Sawantwadi Road on Thursdays at 17:20 hrs on the same dates, reaching CSMT by 03:45 hrs the next day. These consist of 2 general special services and 2 Holi special services. The coach configuration includes 1 AC-2 Tier, 6 AC-3 Tier, 9 Sleeper Class, 4 General Second Class, and 2 General Second Class cum Guard's brake vans. The train will stop at Dadar, Thane, Panvel, Pen, Roha, Mangaon, Veer, Khed, Chiplun, Sawarda, Arawali Road, Sangameshwar Road, Ratnagiri, Adavali, Vilavade, Rajapur Road, Vaibhavwadi Road, Nandgaon Road, Kankavali, Sindhudurg, and Kudal. Additionally, LTT to Banaras bi-weekly specials (4 services) and LTT to Samastipur weekly specials (4 services) are also available, offering vital connections to eastern regions with diverse coach compositions and halts.
Pune's Extensive Reach
Pune is set to be a major hub for these special services, with multiple routes catering to different directions. Daily specials run to Gorakhpur (32 services) and Danapur (32 services), ensuring frequent connectivity. Bi-weekly services are available to Danapur (8 services) and Ghazipur City (8 services), while a weekly service connects to Hazrat Nizamuddin (4 services). The Pune-Nagpur route also receives a weekly special (4 services). For instance, the Pune-Gorakhpur daily specials (trains 01415/01416) run from Feb 21st to March 8th/9th, with specific halts including Daund Chord Cabin, Ahilyanagar, Kopargaon, Manmad, Bhusaval, Khandwa, Itarsi, Rani Kamlapati, Bina, Virangana Lakshmibai Jhansi, Orai, Kanpur Central, Lucknow, Gonda, and Basti. The coach compositions vary, typically including AC tiers, sleeper class, and general second class coaches, with specific trains featuring pantry cars and generator cars for added convenience on longer journeys.
Daily and Bi-Weekly Services
Central Railway is bolstering daily connectivity with several key routes. Mumbai's LTT station will see daily specials to Danapur (32 services), running from February 21st to March 8th/9th, 2026. These trains, with compositions including AC and Sleeper classes, will halt at Thane, Kalyan, Nashik Road, Bhusaval, Itarsi, Jabalpur, Katni, Satna, Manikpur, Prayagraj Chheoki, Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Jn, Buxar, and Ara. In parallel, Pune offers daily services to Danapur (32 services) and Gorakhpur (32 services). The Pune-Danapur daily specials (trains 01449/01450) operate from Feb 21st to March 8th/10th. Beyond daily options, several bi-weekly services are crucial, such as LTT-Danapur (8 services), LTT-Banaras (8 services), Pune-Danapur (8 services), Pune-Ghazipur City (8 services), and Pune-Danapur (8 services), reinforcing the network's reach during the festive period.
