As the vibrant festival of colors, Holi, draws near, Indian Railways has unveiled plans to operate 6 Holi Special trains to facilitate travel during the festive season.
Running from March 18 to April 1, these special trains will establish crucial connections between Ludhiana and major cities across India. Each of these trains will include Ludhiana in both the outbound and return journeys.
One such service, the New Delhi Festival Special Express Train (04033/04034), is scheduled for operation on March 22 and March 29, according to a Ferozepur division official of Northern Railway quoted by TOI. Departing from New Delhi around 11:45 pm, this train will head to Jammu and Kashmir’s Martyr Captain Tushar Mahajan railway station in Udhampur, returning the next day at 9:30 am. The New Delhi Festival Special Express Train will make a stop in Ludhiana both ways.
Similarly, the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi-Katra-New Delhi Festival Special Express Train (04075/04076) is set to run on March 24 and March 31. Departing from New Delhi at 11:45 pm, it will stop at Ludhiana en route to Katra and back by 9:30 am the following day.
Another noteworthy service is the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra-Varanasi Festival Special Express Train (01654/01653), scheduled for March 24 and March 31. Departing from Katra at 11:35 pm, it will also halt at Ludhiana on both legs of the journey, returning the next day at 11:25 am.
Additionally, the Subedarganj Superfast Express Special Train (04141/04142) will operate on March 18, 25, and April 1, departing for Jammu from Subedarganj at around 4:10 pm and returning the next day at 12:50 pm.
Lastly, the Amritsar-Gorakhpur-Amritsar Festival Express train will run on March 20 and 27, originating from Gorakhpur to Amritsar and back the following day. This service will begin from Chhapra railway station and head to Amritsar on March 22 and 29.
The introduction of these six pairs of Holi special trains aims to accommodate the surge in travel demand during the festive period, according to railway officials cited by TOI.