
Travellers planning to return to their hometowns during the upcoming summer holidays will get some relief this year. Indian Railways has announced a large number of special trains to manage the seasonal surge in passenger traffic and make travel smoother during the busy vacation period.
According to Central Railway, a total of 1,484 summer special trains will be operated in the coming months. This includes 749 reserved trains and 735 unreserved services, catering to passengers travelling to several destinations within Maharashtra as well as to other states.
The additional trains are expected to ease the pressure on regular services, which typically see long waiting lists during the summer vacation season.
Special trains on key routes
Within Maharashtra, the special trains will run on several busy routes including Mumbai/Daund–Solapur, Pune–Kolhapur, Nashik Road–Badnera and Hadapsar–Harangal.
For passengers travelling to other states, trains will operate on routes such as Mumbai–Ballia, Mumbai–Gorakhpur, Daund–Kalaburagi, Solapur–Kalaburagi and Anakapalle.
Railway officials said the decision was taken to help travellers plan their journeys in advance and avoid last-minute travel difficulties during the peak holiday period.
More trains if demand rises
Officials also noted that the detailed timetable and stoppage information for these special trains will be released soon.
In a new step towards demand-based planning, Indian Railways will also use AI-based tools to analyse ticket searches, waiting lists and passenger demand. If certain routes see heavy demand, additional trains may be introduced.
For now, the current plan has been prepared using travel patterns and passenger data from the previous year, with flexibility to expand services if required.
Summer travel rush expected
Summer holidays often lead to a massive surge in train bookings as families travel to visit relatives or plan trips with friends. Many passengers head to their hometowns, while others plan trekking getaways and leisure trips.
With trains filling up quickly and waiting lists growing fast during this time, the special services are expected to make travel easier for both regular travellers and last-minute planners.
By adding 1,484 special trains this summer, Indian Railways aims to reduce overcrowding, improve passenger convenience and ensure smoother journeys during one of the busiest travel seasons of the year.
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