Holi Special Trains 2026: 186 Extra Trains Announced – Full Routes, Timings And Details
With passenger traffic expected to surge ahead of Holi 2026, Central Railway has announced a massive operational plan to manage the festive rush. The railway zone will operate 186 additional special trains to improve connectivity between Maharashtra and key destinations across Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi and other regions.
Out of the 186 services:
- 94 will be Holi Special trains
- 92 will be other special services
These trains will operate between February 21 and March 10, 2026, covering daily, weekly and bi-weekly schedules.
Here’s the complete breakdown of routes, timings and services.
CSMT – Nagpur – CSMT Bi-Weekly Specials (10 Services)
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus to Nagpur
- Train 02141: Departs CSMT every Sunday and Tuesday at 00:20 hrs (Feb 22–March 8), arriving Nagpur at 15:10 hrs the same day.
- Train 02142: Departs Nagpur at 20:00 hrs, reaching CSMT at 13:30 hrs next day.
Services:
- 4 Special (Feb 22 & 24)
- 6 Holi Special (March 1, 3 & 8)
Coach Composition:
1 AC 2-Tier, 6 AC 3-Tier, 9 Sleeper, 4 General Second Class, 2 Guard Brake Vans
Major Halts: Dadar, Thane, Kalyan, Nashik Road, Manmad, Jalgaon, Bhusaval, Wardha
CSMT – Sawantwadi Road Weekly Specials (4 Services)
- 01171: Departs CSMT Thursdays at 00:20 hrs (Feb 26 & March 5)
- 01172: Departs Sawantwadi Road at 17:20 hrs, arrives CSMT at 03:45 hrs next day
Key Halts: Panvel, Roha, Chiplun, Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, Kudal
CSMT – Gorakhpur Daily Specials (32 Services)
Gorakhpur route
- 01079: Departs CSMT daily at 22:30 hrs (Feb 21–March 8), arriving Gorakhpur at 10:00 hrs on the third day
- 01080: Departs Gorakhpur at 14:30 hrs (Feb 23–March 10), reaching CSMT at 00:40 hrs on the third day
Total: 16 Special + 16 Holi Special
Major Halts: Itarsi, Bhopal, Jhansi, Kanpur Central, Lucknow, Gonda, Basti
LTT – Banaras Bi-Weekly Specials (8 Services)
Lokmanya Tilak Terminus to Varanasi
- 01073: Departs Wednesdays & Thursdays at 12:15 hrs (Feb 25, 26; March 4, 5), arriving Banaras at 01:10 hrs on third day
- 01074: Returns Fridays & Saturdays at 06:35 hrs
Total: 4 Special + 4 Holi Special
Halts: Khandwa, Itarsi, Jhansi, Prayagraj
LTT – Samastipur Weekly AC Specials (4 Services)
Samastipur route
- 01043: Departs Tuesdays (Feb 24 & March 3)
- 01044: Returns Thursdays at 03:00 hrs
AC-Heavy Composition: 15 AC 3-Tier coaches
Major Halts: Jabalpur, Satna, Danapur, Hajipur, Muzaffarpur
LTT – Danapur Daily Specials (32 Services)
Danapur route
- 01143/01144 operate daily (Feb 21–March 9)
- 16 Special + 16 Holi Special
Major Halts: Itarsi, Jabalpur, Katni, Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Jn, Buxar, Ara
Pune – Nagpur Weekly AC & Mixed Specials (8 Services)
Pune to Nagpur
- 01469/01470 (AC-heavy) – Tuesdays/Wednesdays
- 01457/01458 (Mixed class) – Wednesdays/Thursdays
Halts: Daund, Manmad, Jalgaon, Akola, Wardha
Pune – Danapur Services (40 Services)
- 01481/01482 (Bi-weekly) – 8 services
- 01449/01450 (Daily) – 32 services
Halts: Daund, Itarsi, Jabalpur, Prayagraj Chheoki, Buxar
Pune – Ghazipur City Bi-Weekly (8 Services)
Ghazipur route
- 01431/01432 (Feb 24–March 8)
Halts: Khandwa, Katni, Varanasi, Jaunpur
Pune – Gorakhpur Daily Specials (32 Services)
- 01415/01416 (Feb 21–March 9)
Halts: Itarsi, Jhansi, Kanpur Central, Lucknow, Basti
Pune – Hazrat Nizamuddin Weekly Specials (4 Services)
Hazrat Nizamuddin Railway Station route
- 01491/01492 operate on select Fridays & Saturdays (Feb 27–March 7)
Halts: Lonavala, Vasai Road, Surat, Vadodara, Kota, Bharatpur, Mathura
Central Railway’s Holi 2026 Strategy
With Holi being one of India’s busiest travel seasons, Central Railway has strengthened operations through:
- Night and early morning departures
- Increased AC-heavy services
- Daily connectivity to Bihar & UP
- Balanced coach compositions (AC + Sleeper + General)
The move aims to reduce congestion and provide smoother travel during peak festive days.
Passengers are advised to:
- Book tickets early
- Check IRCTC for updated timings
- Monitor official railway announcements
Final Word
With 186 additional trains, Central Railway’s Holi 2026 plan is one of the largest festive operational expansions in recent years. The added services will significantly ease travel for passengers heading home to celebrate Holi across Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Delhi.
