Indian Railways is operating approximately 18,000 special trains during the festive season to accommodate the significant rise in passenger movement across the country. The additional services are intended to help passengers travelling for Durga Puja, Diwali and Chhath, when railway stations and major routes typically experience heavy demand.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw shared details of the festive arrangements on November 5, stating that the Railways had expanded its special-train operations compared with the previous year. According to the minister, approximately 18,000 special trains are being operated this year, compared with around 12,000 during the corresponding festive period last year.
Editorial Insight
Key Highlights
Important points readers should notice.
Issue/Event: Festive-season special train operations
Location: Across the Indian Railways network
Action Taken: Around 18,000 special trains are being operated
Additional Railway Protection Force personnel have been deployed.
Impact: Additional travel capacity during major festivals
The expansion is intended to improve travel availability and reduce pressure on regular passenger services. However, the actual availability of seats and the number of services operating on a particular route will depend on individual train schedules and dates.
Passenger Facilities at Major Stations
Alongside additional train services, the Railways has focused on improving passenger facilities at major stations experiencing substantial festive-season footfall.
Editorial Analysis
Why This Matters
The festive season is one of the busiest travel periods for Indian Railways. Additional special trains can provide more options for passengers and help reduce pressure on regular services. Improved holding areas and station-level crowd monitoring are also important for passenger convenience and safety. However, the effectiveness of these arrangements will depend on route-wise capacity, operational coordination and the ability of stations to manage peak-hour crowds.
At New Delhi Railway Station, arrangements include a dedicated passenger holding area intended to help manage crowds before passengers enter the platforms. Similar arrangements have been highlighted at Udhna railway station in Gujarat.
The holding areas at New Delhi and Udhna have been designed to accommodate approximately 20,000 passengers each, according to the information shared about the arrangements. Facilities such as toilets, improved air circulation and ticket counters have also been included to make waiting more manageable.
These arrangements are particularly relevant during peak departure periods, when large numbers of passengers arrive at stations well before their scheduled trains.
AI-Based Surveillance at New Delhi Railway Station
The festive-season preparedness review also highlighted the use of technology for crowd monitoring. More than 700 artificial-intelligence-enabled cameras have been installed at New Delhi Railway Station, according to the minister's statement.
The cameras are intended to support monitoring of passenger movement and help railway authorities manage crowd conditions more effectively. The deployment is specific to New Delhi Railway Station and should not be interpreted as a nationwide installation across all railway stations.
The use of surveillance technology is part of a broader effort to strengthen station-level management during periods of unusually high passenger movement.
Railway Station Redevelopment
The minister also referred to the wider station redevelopment programme. Work has been undertaken at approximately 1,300 railway stations, with around 400 stations reported as completed.
The redevelopment programme is aimed at improving station infrastructure and passenger amenities. These longer-term improvements are separate from the temporary arrangements being made for the festive travel rush.
For passengers, the combination of additional train services and improved station facilities could make travel more manageable, although congestion may continue at high-demand stations and on popular routes.
