East Coast Railway to Run Special Trains for Holi Festival to Accommodate Passenger Demand

Bhubaneswar: As the festive season approaches, the East Coast Railway (ECoR) has announced plans to operate Special Trains during the Holi Festival to cater to the increased demand for train services. In a bid to clear the additional rush of passengers, ECoR has scheduled five pairs of Holi Special Trains running towards Pune, Patna, and Nizamuddin. Additionally, services of some existing Special Trains passing through ECoR jurisdiction have been extended during the festive period.

The Indian Railways is currently experiencing a high volume of ticket bookings, resulting in long waitlists for regular trains. To address this surge in demand, Passenger Profile Management Units of Indian Railways are closely monitoring the situation to ensure a hassle-free travel experience for passengers. In response, Indian Railways is introducing several Special trains on busy routes connecting popular destinations and augmenting additional coaches in regular trains.

Berths Available – How to Look for Special Trains:

Passengers encountering waitlist status in regular trains during this season are encouraged to book tickets in Special trains running through the East Coast Railway jurisdiction. Special Train Numbers beginning with “0” (zero) or “8” can be easily found on the National Train Enquiry System (NTES) for online ticket bookings or by inquiring at PRS inquiry counters for counter tickets.

Special Trains are currently offering available berths, and East Coast Railway has created additional berths by running Special Trains and augmenting additional coaches in regular trains. Passengers can book tickets online through the IRCTC website, mobile app, or at PRS counters. Information about the Special trains from ECoR can also be found on the ECoR Facebook page @EASTCOASTRailway and Twitter Account @eastcoastrail.

Highlighted Holi Special Trains:

Sambalpur-Pune Holi Special (08327/08328): This train will run from Sambalpur to Pune and back, departing every Sunday between March 17 and March 31, 2024.

Puri-Patna Holi Special (08477/08478): Operating from Puri to Patna and vice versa, this train will run every Monday from March 18 to March 25, 2024.

Puri-Nizamuddin Holi Special via Sambalpur City (08475/08476): Scheduled to run from Puri to Nizamuddin and back, this train will depart every Friday between March 22 and March 29, 2024.

Visakhapatnam-Nizamuddin Holi Special (08571/08572): Operating between Visakhapatnam and Nizamuddin, this train will run every Saturday from March 23 to March 30, 2024.

Visakhapatnam-Patna Holi Special (08517/08518): This train will run from Visakhapatnam to Patna and back, departing every Wednesday between March 20 and March 27, 2024.

These Special Trains are designed to accommodate the surge in passenger demand during the Holi Festival, providing a convenient travel option for those seeking to celebrate the festival with their loved ones. Passengers are encouraged to check the availability of berths and book their tickets promptly to ensure a smooth and enjoyable journey.