Indian Railways is planning to run 18,262 special train trips between April 15 and July 15, 2026, to handle the seasonal rush and reduce crowding on busy routes, the Ministry of Railways said on Friday.
Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw reviewed the preparations in New Delhi, with a focus on deployment, scheduling, and crowd management. The idea is to improve connectivity on high-demand routes during the summer rush.
So far, around 11,878 special trips have already been announced, while the rest will be rolled out in phases. Officials said the plan is supported by better rake availability, tighter scheduling, and continuous monitoring.
Some of the busiest stations during this period are expected to be New Delhi Railway Station, Lokmanya Tilak Terminus, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, Pune Junction, Udhna Junction, Ahmedabad Junction, and Bengaluru City Railway Station. Railways said extra staff, real-time monitoring, and better on-ground coordination are being put in place to manage the crowds.
At Udhna, Western Railway has already started steps like guided boarding, more staff deployment, and improved coordination between departments to keep things under control.
There are also special arrangements for passengers travelling back to their hometowns, especially to make boarding smoother. For example, on Train No. 19045 Udhna–Thave Tapti Ganga Express, Railway Protection Force personnel helped manage boarding and prevent overcrowding.
Overall, the ministry said this large-scale plan shows a more organised approach to handling peak travel demand, and efforts will continue to ensure safe and smooth journeys throughout the summer.