Indian Railways Ensures Smooth Festive Travel with Over 12,000 Special Trains in 2025
Union Minister Reviews Passenger Movement
Union Minister for Railways, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, visited the Railway Board War Room on October 20, 2025, to assess passenger movement during the festive season. He commended the railway staff for their relentless 24×7 efforts and extended Diwali greetings, acknowledging their dedication to ensuring seamless travel.
Video of the War Room Visit
Hon’ble MR Shri @AshwiniVaishnaw visited the War Room at the Railway Board and reviewed passenger movement during the festive season. He appreciated the staff for working round the clock and extended his best wishes to them on the occasion of Diwali.
— Ministry of Railways (@RailMinIndia) October 20, 2025
Festive Season Operations: Special Trains Overview
Indian Railways has significantly scaled up its operations to meet the festive season demand during Puja, Diwali, and Chhath. Between October 1 and 19, 2025, the railway network operated 3,960 special trains, facilitating the travel of over 1 crore passengers. To accommodate the anticipated rush for Diwali and Chhath, Indian Railways plans to run an additional 8,051 special trains, bringing the total to 12,011 special trains for the season, a notable increase from the 7,724 trains operated during the same period last year.
Zone-Wise Distribution of Special Trains
The special trains are distributed across various railway zones, with the following breakdown:
- Central Railway (CR): 1,998 trains
- Northern Railway (NR): 1,919 trains
- Western Railway (WR): 1,501 trains
- East Central Railway (ECR): 1,217 trains
- North Western Railway (NWR): 1,217 trains
- South Central Railway (SCR): 973 trains
- Southern Railway (SR): 527 trains
- North Central Railway (NCR): 438 trains
- North Eastern Railway (NER): 442 trains
- Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR): 427 trains
- East Coast Railway (ECOR): 367 trains
- South Western Railway (SWR): 325 trains
- Eastern Railway (ER): 310 trains
- South Eastern Railway (SER): 140 trains
- South East Central Railway (SECR): 106 trains
- West Central Railway (WCR): 101 trains
- Konkan Railway (KR): 3 trains
- Total: 12,011 trains
Enhanced Facilities for Passenger Comfort
Indian Railways has implemented extensive measures to streamline crowd management and enhance passenger comfort. Key arrangements include:
- Dedicated Holding Areas: To manage crowds efficiently at major stations.
- Additional Ticket Counters: To reduce waiting times for ticket purchases.
- Potable Water Facilities: Ensuring access to clean drinking water.
- Clean Washrooms: Maintaining hygiene standards for passenger convenience.
- Display of Train Timings: Providing clear information to assist travelers.
Passenger Movement in New Delhi Area
In the New Delhi area, covering stations such as New Delhi, Delhi, Anand Vihar, Hazrat Nizamuddin, and Shakur Basti, a total of 15.17 lakh passengers traveled between October 16 and 19, 2025. This marks an increase of 1.51 lakh passengers compared to the 13.66 lakh passengers recorded during the same period last year.
Minister’s Station Visits and Passenger Feedback
Prior to the War Room review, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw visited New Delhi and Anand Vihar railway stations to interact with passengers and gather feedback on the arrangements. The feedback highlighted the effectiveness of the special arrangements, which have significantly improved the travel experience during the festive rush.
Commitment to Safe and Hassle-Free Travel
Indian Railways remains dedicated to providing safe, comfortable, and efficient travel services. Over 12 lakh railway employees are working tirelessly to ensure smooth operations and a pleasant journey for every passenger during this festive season.