Western Railway’s Holi Special Trains Carry 27 Lakh Passengers in Four Days

Surat: Western Railway has made comprehensive arrangements to effectively manage the heavy passenger rush during the Holi festival season, according to a press release.

According to the Chief Public Relations Officer of Western Railway, Vineet Abhishek, WR has announced the operation of 308 trips of special trains from Western Railway stations to cater to the Holi rush during the last week of February and throughout March.

Accordingly, from February 21 to March 2, 2026, the Zone operated 266 special trains to destinations such as Gorakhpur, Banaras, Danapur, Samastipur, Darbhanga, Bhagat Ki Kothi (Jodhpur), Haridwar, Hazrat Nizamuddin, Delhi, Raxaul and other important stations. These trains covered major states including Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan and Gujarat to meet passenger demand.

During the period from February 27 to March 2, 2026, the Zone carried more than 27 lakh passengers to their destinations.

Effective Measures Taken to Handle the Rush

To efficiently manage the festival rush, the following measures were implemented:

• Frequent announcements regarding special trains to avoid confusion among passengers.

• Train information displayed through electronic display boards at stations.

• Proper guidance and assistance provided by railway staff at stations.

• Publicity campaigns encouraging passengers to purchase tickets through ATVMs and the RailOne App.

• Deployment of mobile UTS ticketing facilities at stations to issue tickets to passengers waiting in queues.

• Additional ticket booking counters, ATVMs and hand-held ticketing terminals arranged for faster ticketing.

• Creation of holding areas at important stations to regulate passenger movement and manage crowds.

• Adequate drinking water, seating and basic amenities arranged in holding areas for passenger convenience.

• Wide dissemination of information regarding special trains through print, electronic and social media platforms.

• Prompt action by on-duty staff as per emerging operational requirements.

• Deployment of adequate Railway Protection Force (RPF) and ticket-checking staff at major stations and onboard trains.

• Use of drone cameras and CCTV surveillance for real-time monitoring of passenger movement at sensitive stations.

• Continuous monitoring to ensure punctual operation of special trains.

• Effective crowd management to ensure safe boarding and de-boarding, with RPF personnel deployed at FOBs, platforms, entry and exit gates, and inside trains.

Western Railway continues to closely monitor passenger movement across its network and remains fully prepared to operate additional special train services and deploy necessary resources to ensure safe, comfortable and convenient travel during the Holi festive season. DeshGujarat