Holi is still weeks away, but train tickets are already disappearing fast.
With Holi falling on 4 March 2026, travel demand has surged across routes under the North Eastern Railway.
People heading home for the festival have packed regular trains, leaving almost no seats available on many major routes.
To handle the rush, the railway zone has announced 62 special Holi trains between 1 March and 22 March.
62 Special Holi Trains Announced
The special trains will operate from key stations like Gorakhpur, Lucknow, Banaras, Kathgodam, and Chhapra.
These services will connect passengers to major cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, and Kolkata.
Officials say this is the initial plan. If demand increases further, more trips can be added.
Gorakhpur will see the highest number of additional trains. Around a dozen special services are expected to run mainly towards Delhi and Amritsar.
Railway authorities aim to ease pressure on regular long-distance trains, most of which are already fully booked.
Regular Trains Already Fully Booked
Booking data shows heavy waiting lists on trains heading to Gorakhpur from Delhi and Mumbai before Holi.
After the festival, trains leaving Gorakhpur for these cities are also packed from 5 March to 15 March.
Several major trains are completely reserved during this period, including:
Gorakhdham Superfast
Sampark Kranti Superfast
Vaishali Express
Kushinagar Express
Most of these trains show no seats available in any class during peak travel days.
Special Crowd Management at Gorakhpur
To manage the expected rush, special arrangements are being made at Gorakhpur Junction.
From 25 February, a dedicated passenger holding area will be set up.
This will help control queues and reduce overcrowding on platforms.
The goal is to make boarding smoother for both regular and special trains during the festival period.
One-Time Azamgarh–Yashvantpur Special Train
Apart from the Holi specials, a one-time long-distance train (05009) has also been announced.
This special service will run between Azamgarh and Yashvantpur via Gorakhpur on 11 February.
The train will depart from Azamgarh at 05:05 am and reach Gorakhpur at 08:50 am the same day. It will arrive at Yashvantpur at 10:30 am the next morning.
The train will operate with 17 coaches.
What This Means for Passengers
Holi 2026 is seeing exceptionally high travel demand, especially across eastern Uttar Pradesh and Bihar routes.
With 62 special trains, possible additional services, and crowd-control measures in place, the railway aims to reduce pressure on fully booked regular trains.
If you are planning to travel around Holi, booking early is crucial. Seats are filling fast, and waiting lists are growing longer every day.
