Central Railway Announces 186 Special Trains for Holi, a Major Relief for Nagpur Passengers

Nagpur: In a significant move to ease travel during the festive season, Central Railway has announced 186 special train services to manage the heavy passenger rush during Holi. This initiative is particularly beneficial for Nagpur, which is one of the key beneficiaries of these special train services.

The special arrangements include 94 Holi Special Trains and 92 Regular Special Trains, connecting Nagpur with major cities such as Mumbai, Pune, and North Indian destinations like Gorakhpur, Banaras, Samastipur, Danapur, and Delhi. These services will operate between February 21 and March 10, 2026, ensuring smoother travel during the peak festive period.

For thousands of Nagpurians working or studying in Mumbai and Pune, as well as those travelling to Uttar Pradesh and Bihar for Holi, the additional trains are expected to provide significant relief. The Central Railway has made a strong focus on Nagpur routes to accommodate the high demand during this period.

Among the key routes benefiting Nagpur:

Mumbai–Nagpur–Mumbai (Bi-weekly | 10 services) Trains will run every Sunday and Tuesday from February 22 to March 8 between Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) and Nagpur. Six of these services are specifically designated as Holi Specials.

Pune–Nagpur–Pune (Weekly AC | 4 services) Air-conditioned special trains will operate on February 24–25 and March 3–4.

Pune–Nagpur–Pune (Weekly | 4 services) Additional weekly services will run on February 25–26 and March 4–5, further strengthening connectivity between the two major Maharashtra cities.

In addition, daily and bi-weekly services from Mumbai and Pune to Danapur, Gorakhpur, Banaras, Samastipur, Ghazipur City, and Hazrat Nizamuddin will benefit passengers from Nagpur connecting to these long-distance routes.

Key Holi Special Routes Central Railway will operate special services on the following major routes:

1. Mumbai-Nagpur-Mumbai (Bi-weekly | 10 services) - From February 22 to March 8, trains will run every Sunday and Tuesday from CSMT to Nagpur and back. Six of these have been designated as Holi Specials.

2. Mumbai–Sawantwadi Road–Mumbai (Weekly | 4 services) - Trains will operate on February 26 and March 5, connecting Konkan passengers with Mumbai for festive travel.

3. Mumbai–Gorakhpur–Mumbai (Daily | 32 services) - From February 21 to March 10, daily specials will run between CSMT and Gorakhpur—one of the most in-demand Holi routes.

4. LTT–Sawantwadi Road–LTT (Weekly | 4 services) - Weekly services on February 26, 27, March 5, and 6 will help Konkan-bound travellers.

5. LTT–Banaras–LTT (Bi-weekly | 8 services) - Trains will run on February 25–26 and March 4–5 towards Banaras.

6. LTT–Samastipur–LTT (Weekly AC | 4 services) - Air-conditioned special trains will run on February 24, 26, March 3, and 5.

7. LTT–Danapur–LTT (Daily | 32 services) - Daily services will operate from February 21 to March 9.

8. Pune–Nagpur–Pune (Weekly AC | 4 services) - AC special trains on February 24–25 and March 3–4 will run between the two major Maharashtra cities.

9. Pune–Nagpur–Pune (Weekly | 4 services) - Additional weekly specials on February 25–26 and March 4–5.

10. Pune–Danapur–Pune (Bi-weekly | 8 services) - Trains will run between February 23 and March 8.

11. Pune–Danapur–Pune (Daily | 32 services) - Daily services scheduled from February 21 to March 10.

12. Pune–Ghazipur City–Pune (Bi-weekly | 8 services) - Services will run from February 24 to March 8.

13. Pune–Gorakhpur–Pune (Daily | 32 services) - Daily special trains from February 21 to March 9.

14. Pune–Hazrat Nizamuddin–Pune (Weekly | 4 services) - Services on February 27–28 and March 6–7 will connect Pune to Delhi NCR.

Booking Details - Advance reservations open from February 18, 2026. - Tickets can be booked at computerized reservation centres and through the official Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) website. - Unreserved tickets will be available via the UTS app. - Detailed train timings can be checked on the NTES app and the Indian Railways enquiry portal.

With Holi witnessing one of the highest seasonal travel surges every year, the special trains are expected to ease waiting lists and reduce overcrowding, particularly on the heavily demanded Nagpur–Mumbai and Nagpur–Pune corridors.