Festival season is here, and Indian Railways is pulling out all stops for Holi travelers. Facing a ticket crunch, the network has rolled out 10 fresh special trains linking Bihar, UP, and eastern routes to Kolkata. This expansion targets the massive influx of passengers returning to their hometowns.
Spanning lines from Lal Kuan via Gorakhpur to Kolkata, Saharsa to Purnea, and beyond, these trains will operate through March. They stop at crucial junctions, making travel seamless. Officials note the initiative counters overcrowding, a perennial Holi challenge.
Highlighting the 05060 Lal Kuan-Kolkata, it runs Thursdays March 5-26, starting 1:35 PM from Lal Kuan and hitting Kolkata 11:55 PM next day. Reverse 05059 Saturdays March 7-28 from Kolkata 5 AM to Lal Kuan 3:45 PM, covering Chhapra, Muzaffarpur, and more.
Saharsa-Purnea’s 05506 zips out Tuesdays/Fridays/Saturdays/Sundays March 6-15 at 1:20 PM, back by 3:30 PM. Return 05505 Mondays/Tuesdays/Fridays/Saturdays March 9-17 from 3 PM to Saharsa 6:30 PM.
Short-haul options like Sogarhiya-Danapur (March 1/3) and Dankuni-Patna (Feb 27/March 4) fill gaps perfectly. These services not only boost capacity but also connect underserved pockets in Bihar and UP.
For families separated by work, this is welcome news. Railways’ strategy reflects years of learning from past rushes. Pro tip: Monitor the NTES app for live status and snag RAC/waitlist options if needed. Holi travels just got a festive upgrade.