Indian Railways Announces 14+ Holi Special Trains Between Delhi, Mumbai, UP, and Bihar

As Holi 2026 approaches, people are gearing up to visit their hometowns. To ensure a smooth travel experience, the Indian Railways has introduced more than 14 Holi special trains connecting major cities of the country. 

The Holi special trains have been launched to handle the sharp increase in demand during the festive season. If you plan to travel during the Holi season, it is essential to know the details of routes, prices, schedules, and booking procedures. 

Routes & Key Connectivity

Holi special trains are launched primarily to serve popular routes that experience increased traffic during the festive season. Here are some important details about routes and key connectivity of these trains: 

• Key Routes Covered

Holi special trains are primarily launched to connect metropolitan hubs such as Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Kolkata, and Hyderabad with several smaller cities and towns in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal.

• Return Journey Connectivity

Holi special trains are not limited to pre-festival travel and also ensure services for the return journey. Most of the trains launched during the festive season have a proper schedule for the return journey, enabling passengers to travel back to their workplace or educational institutions without any hassle.

• Unreserved Special Trains

The Indian Railways has also announced several unreserved special trains for short-distance travel during the festive season. One of the most popular routes covered by these trains is Nizamuddin to Mathura, serving passengers travelling within the Delhi region and nearby towns.

Train Details: Routes, Train Number & Schedule

The Indian Railways has announced 1244 Holi special trains in 2026. Here are some popular routes covered by Holi special trains along with their frequency, and more:

Mumbai to Uttar Pradesh and Bihar

Gujarat and Central India to North/East India

Delhi to Bihar and Eastern India

Where to Book Holi Special Train Tickets?

Booking Holi special trains can be done through the IRCTC website or railway reservation counters. If you wish to book train tickets without any hassle, you can choose redRail. Here’s a step-by-step guide to booking your tickets:

• Step 1: Visit the official redBus website or download the redBus mobile application. From here, open the redRail section and select “Train Tickets”.
  

• Step 2: Fill in the necessary information like source, destination, and travel date, and click on the “Search Trains” option.
  

• Step 3: From the list of available trains, look for trains labelled “Holi Special” or “Special Trains”. Review the departure timings, travel duration, and seat availability.
  

• Step 4: You can apply additional filters to sort trains by departure, arrival time, or class. Check the seat availability and fare details before finalising.
  

• Step 5: Fill in passenger details, including name, age, gender, berth preference, and ID proof. Make sure to double-check these details to avoid any booking errors.
  

• Step 6: Complete the booking by making the payment. You can choose to pay either through UPI, debit or credit card, net banking, or wallet.
  
• Step 7: Once the payment is successful, your e-ticket will be generated instantly. You will receive ticket details on your registered mobile number and email.

FAQs on Holi Special Trains

• Why has the Indian Railways introduced Holi special trains in 2026?

The Indian Railways has introduced Holi special trains in 2026 due to the high passenger movement during the season. Mostly regular trains become fully booked weeks in advance; therefore, special trains are launched to manage the crowd pressure and provide additional travel options.

• How are Holi special trains different from regular trains?

Holi special trains are temporary services offered by the Indian Railways, as opposed to regular trains that operate throughout the year. However, the on-board facility, booking procedure, ticketing policies, etc., are similar to those of regular trains.

• Do Holi special trains have higher ticket prices than regular trains?

Ticket fares for Holi special trains may be slightly higher due to demand, routes, and availability. However, since prices are regulated by the Indian Railways, these trains are affordable and a reliable option for last-minute travel.

• What is the cancellation policy for Holi special trains?

Cancellation policies for Holi special trains are similar to those of regular trains. Passengers may cancel their tickets and receive a refund. Make sure to check the cancellation rules of the Indian Railways. 

• What happens if my ticket for the Holi special train remains waitlisted?

If your ticket stays waitlisted after chart preparation, it will be automatically cancelled for e-tickets, and refunds will be processed according to railway rules. Passengers should regularly check PNR status and prepare backup travel options due to heavy demand.

• What are some of the popular routes for which Holi special trains are available in 2026?

Some of the popular routes covered under Holi special trains include Mumbai to Katihar, Mumbai to Varanasi, Patna to New Delhi, Sabarmati to Delhi, and many more. 

• Is it safe to travel on special trains?

Yes, absolutely. Special trains help reduce overcrowding in regular trains, improving overall passenger safety and comfort. Indian Railways also increases security personnel, ticket checks, and operational monitoring during festive periods to ensure smoother boarding and safer long-distance travel.

• What are the benefits of booking tickets for Holi special trains with redRail?

redRail provides you with easy and quick access to a wide range of routes, train schedules, a simple booking process, and exciting discounts with redDeals.