Townhall Times, New Delhi
Reporter: Bhavika Kalra
By: Transport & Infrastructure Bureau | New Delhi
Tuesday, February 24, 2026
If you’ve tried to book a seat toward Bihar or Eastern UP in the last 48 hours, you’ve seen the “Regret” status on your screen. As of this morning, the waiting lists for flagship trains like the Poorva and Vikramshila have crossed the 300-mark. In response, the Ministry of Railways hasn’t just issued a press release; they’ve triggered a “Level 1” emergency mobilization.
The plan? Flooding the tracks with nearly 1,500 Holi Special trips—a 23% jump from last year. But as any regular traveler knows, the “Specials” are only half the battle.
The Rake Reality: Where are the extra seats?
Today, the Northern and Central Railways confirmed they are adding extra 3AC and Sleeper coaches to existing heavyweights.
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The Jammu-Delhi Corridor: An additional 3AC coach was bolted onto the Jammu–New Delhi Rajdhani just this morning.
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The Kolkata Connection: The Jammu Tawi–Kolkata Express is seeing a temporary expansion of its General Second Class capacity through March 1 to handle the migrant surge.
But here is the catch: most platforms at New Delhi and Patna Junction can only hold 24 coaches. Railways engineers are currently doing “platform-fit” audits to see if they can push 26-coach “Jumbo” rakes on select routes without overshooting the signal.
The “Special” List (Breaking Down the Numbers)
The East Central Railway (ECR) is the epicenter of the storm this year, operating the highest share of specials (285 services).
| Train Number | Route | Frequency / Period |
| 01143 / 01144 | LTT (Mumbai) – Danapur | Daily (Now thru March 9) |
| 01079 / 01080 | CSMT – Gorakhpur | Daily (Now thru March 10) |
| 01073 / 01074 | LTT – Banaras | Wed/Fri (Starting Feb 25) |
| 04616 / 04615 | Ferozepur – Ara (Bihar) | Select Dates (Feb 26, Mar 2, 6) |
| 06569 | Bengaluru – Delhi | One-time “Rush Clearer” (Feb 25) |
The “Dongle” and the “Bot”: The Booking War
Inside the IRCTC server rooms, it’s a game of cat and mouse. While the “Special Trains” are being uploaded to the system, unauthorized agents using “fast-booking bots” are the main target of the RPF’s Cyber Cell today.
Railways officials in Patna and Danapur have started a “Surprise Ticket Sweep.” Late last night at Danapur station, 549 “unauthorized” travelers were pulled off long-distance trains and fined ₹3 lakh in a single four-hour window. The message is clear: if you don’t have a confirmed ticket, the “special” status won’t protect you from being offloaded.
Ground Level: Crowd Control or Controlled Chaos?
At New Delhi Station, the scene is shifting.
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Passenger Holding Areas: Massive tents with extra fans and “real-time” display boards are being erected to keep people off the main platforms until 20 minutes before departure.
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The “General” Queue: The RPF has started a “Numbered Slip” system for unreserved coaches on the Bihar-bound specials. You get a number, you wait in a designated zone, and you board in order. No more “window climbing.”
The Financial Catch
Let’s be honest—these “Special Trains” aren’t cheap. Under the “Special Fare” category, tickets can cost 10-30% more than your regular mail/express. For a migrant worker in Ludhiana or Mumbai, that’s a heavy hit, but with regular trains booked out months in advance, it’s the only way home.
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