With the festival of Holi approaching, the rush to go home is increasing every day. To manage this heavy passenger traffic, Indian Railways has announced several special trains for Bihar. These trains will operate from major cities like Pune, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, and Sri Ganganagar. This comes as a big relief for people travelling to Danapur, Samastipur, Darbhanga, and Patna. The operations for these special trains will continue from late February until the end of March 2026.
Which special trains are running for Holi 2026?
The railways have released a schedule for special trains that will run during the peak dates of the festival. Most of these trains will begin operations in the last week of February. Passengers are advised to check the exact timings on the official enquiry system before leaving for the station. Below is the list of major trains announced for the Bihar route.
| Train Route | Train Number | Schedule/Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Pune – Danapur | 01481/01482 | Runs on Feb 23, 27, Mar 2, 6 |
| Mumbai (LTT) – Danapur | 01143/01144 | Daily from Feb 21 to Mar 8 |
| Mumbai (LTT) – Samastipur | 01043/01044 | Weekly (Tuesdays) |
| Tata – Katihar | 08181/08182 | 5 trips in March |
| Gondia – Patna | 08861/08862 | Runs on Mar 2 & 3 |
| Sri Ganganagar – Samastipur | 04731/04732 | Daily from Mar 1 to 31 |
How much do the tickets cost and how to book?
Passengers should note that these ‘Holi Special’ trains have a different fare structure compared to regular mail or express trains. Most of them operate under ‘Todex’ charges, which makes the ticket price approximately 30% higher than usual. The booking for many of these trains, especially from the Central Railway zone, opened on February 18, 2026. Since the demand is very high, many trains have already reached waitlist status within hours. It is recommended to use the IRCTC app or NTES website to check for confirmed seats or alternative dates.
Are there any alternative travel options available?
For those who are unable to get a confirmed train ticket, there are a few other arrangements in place. The Bihar State Road Transport Corporation (BSRTC) has announced that it will run 200 inter-state buses starting February 23 to help passengers reach their destinations. On the other hand, flight prices have surged significantly for the festival week. Direct airfare to Patna from major metro cities is currently ranging between ₹10,000 to ₹12,000. Therefore, checking for ‘Clone Trains’ or special buses remains the most affordable option for the common public.
