During peak travel times, especially around major festivals in India, securing confirmed seats on trains becomes a daunting task. Last-minute travel plans further aggravate this problem, offering passengers limited options for a comfortable journey. During festive seasons, the rush for confirmed seats intensifies as everyone tries to make it home to celebrate with loved ones. It’s quite common to find trains booked to capacity around these dates.
For individuals working or studying in different cities, returning home during festivals via train becomes an arduous task. The immense overcrowding in trains during this season frequently makes headlines. To address this issue, the Indian Railways usually operates special trains, aiming to make travelers’ journeys smoother during these peak periods.
In anticipation of this year’s festive rush, the Indian Railways has announced the operation of 300 special trains, where post-charting, one could still hope for confirmed seats. For those planning to travel by train this festive season, it’s recommended to keep an eye on the list covering the 13 railway zones.
A staggering 4,500+ trips will be executed by these special trains. Due to a lack of awareness, many travelers miss out on securing confirmed seats. Here’s a breakdown of some of the key zones and their plans:
- The Northeastern Railway alone will operate 30 special trains, considering the additional rush for Dussehra, Diwali, and Chhath festivals.
- Central Railway: 14 trains with a total of 100 trips.
- East Central Railway: 42 trains, totaling 512 trips.
- Eastern Coast Railway: 12 trains with 308 trips.
- Eastern Railway: 8 trains, executing 42 trips.
- Northern Railway: 34 trains with a combined 228 trips.
- North Eastern Railway: 4 trains, covering 26 trips.
- North Frontier Railway: 22 trains undertaking 241 trips.
- Northwestern Railway: 24 trains, running 1,208 trips.
- Southern Railway: 10 trains covering 58 trips.
- Southeast Railway: 8 trains with 64 trips.
- South Central Railway: 58 trains, totaling 404 trips.
- South Western Railway: 11 trains and 27 trips.
- Western Railway: 36 trains making a whopping 1,262 trips.
For those eager to get confirmed seats, it’s advisable to either visit the railway reservation counters at stations promptly or check the availability on the IRCTC mobile app or website. The chances of getting your ticket confirmed are quite high if you act quickly.
