This time, last year, the infectious disease of coronavirus made its way to India and the mutating virus seems to be rearing its ugly head again. However, the vaccination drive has offered us some relief, and those who are planning to visit home town this festive season, it’s time to book your tickets.
In view of Holi festival, Indian Railways has planned to run special train services in March to ensure smooth and comfortable travel of the passengers. According to the ANI report, Northern Railways is going to operate 16 special trains to ease the festive rush in the season of Holi.
Northern Railway is running 16 pairs of Holi Special trains which will offer 430 trips overall as compared to last years 19 special trains with 324 trips. In addition to that 32 trains have already been augmented during Holi festival period to meet the demand, as per the report.
A majority of these trains have started operations from March 1 onwards. The Holi special trains include weekly, bi-weekly, tri-weekly and daily special trains and will go towards destinations including Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra.
Indian Railways' Central Railway zone announced list of 26 extra trains on its north-bound routes from Mumbai to clear the rush during the Holi festival.
Lokmanya Tilak Terminus-Patna-Lokmanya Tilak Terminus specials (weekly)
Train No. 02041 Weekly Special will leave Lokmanya Tilak Terminus at 05.10 hrs on Thursday 5.3.2020 and 12.3.2020 and will arrive Patna at 11.20 hrs on next day i.e. Friday.
Train No. 01104 Weekly Special will leave Patna at 21.00 hrs on Friday 6.3.2020 and 13.3.2020 and will arrive Lokmanya Tilak Terminus at 04.10 hrs third day i.e. Sunday.
Halts: Thane, Kalyan , Igatpuri, Nashik Road, Bhusaval, Khandwa, Harda, Itarsi, Pipapriya, Gadarwara, Narsinghpur, Madan Mahal, Jabalpur, Katni, Maihar, Satna, Manikpur, Allahabad Chheoki, Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyaye, Buxar and Ara.
Composition: One AC 2 Tier, Three AC-3 Tier, 14 Sleeper class and 5 General Second Class.
Lokmanya Tilak Terminus- Varanasi- Lokmanya Tilak Terminus specials (weekly)
Train No. 01117 Weekly Special will leave Lokmanya Tilak Terminus at 23.05 hrs on Sunday 8.3.2020 and 15.3.2020 and will arrive Varanasi at 6.15 hrs on Third day i.e. Tuesday.
02048 Weekly Special will leave Varanasi at 8.00 hrs on Tuesday 10.3.2020 and 17.3.2020 and will arrive Lokmanya Tilak Terminus at 14.00 hrs next day.
Halts: Thane, Kalyan, Igatpuri, Nashik Road, Bhusaval, Khandwa, Harda, Itarsi, Pipapriya, Gadarwara, Narsinghpur, Madan Mahal, Jabalpur, Katni, Maihar, Satna, Manikpur and Allahabad Chheoki.
Composition: One AC 2 Tier, Three AC-3 Tier, 14 Sleeper class and 5 General Second Class.
Lokmanya Tilak Terminus- MAU- Lokmanya Tilak Terminus specials (weekly) 4Trips
Train No. 02043 Weekly Special will leave Lokmanya Tilak Terminus at 5.10 hrs on Saturday 7.3.2020 and 14.3.2020 and will arrive Mau at 9.50 hrs on next day i.e. Sunday.
01120 Weekly Special will leave Mau at 19.25 hrs on Sunday 08.3.2020 and 15.3.2020 and will arrive Lokmanya Tilak Terminus at 05.00 hrs Third day.
Halts: Thane, Kalyan, Igatpuri, Nashik Road, Bhusaval, Khandwa, Harda, Itarsi, Hoshangabad, Bhopal, Vidisha, Bina, Saugor, Damoh, Katni Murwara, Maihar, Satna, Manikpur and Allahabad Chheoki, Varanasi and Aunrihar Jn.
Composition: One AC 2 Tier, Three AC-3 Tier, 14 Sleeper class and 5 General Second Class.
Pune-Danapur-Pune specials (weekly) 4Trips
Train No. 01123 Weekly Special will leave Pune at 17.40 hrs on Sunday 8.3.2020 and 15.3.2020 and will arrive Danapur at 01.30 hrs on third day i.e. Tuesday.
Train No. 01124 Weekly Special will leave Danapur at 6.30 hrs on 11.3.2020 and 17.3.2020 and will arrive Pune at 17.10 hrs next day.
Halts: Ahmednagar, Belapur, Kopargaon, Manmad, Bhusaval, Khandwa, Itarsi, Pipapriya, Gadarwara, Narsinghpur, Madan Mahal, Jabalpur, Katni, Maihar, Satna, Manikpur, Allahabad Chheoki, Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyaye, Buxar and Ara.
Composition: One AC 2 Tier, Three AC-3 Tier, 14 Sleeper class and 5 General Second Class.
Pune-Ballarshah-Pune specials (weekly)10 Trips
Train No. 02049 Weekly Special will leave Pune at 17.30 hrs on every Tuesday from 3.3.2020 to 31.3.2020 (5 Trips) and will arrive Ballarshah at 14.25 hrs next day.
Train No. 01480 Weekly Special will leave Ballarshah at 18.15 hrs on every Wednesday from 04.03.2020 to 01.04.2020 (5 Trips) and will arrive Pune at 17.00 hrs next day.
Halts: Lonavala, Kalyan, Vasai Road, Virar, Palghar, Vapi, Valsad, Navsari, Bhestan, Chalthan, Nandurbar, Amalner, Dharagaon, Paldhi, Jalgaon, Bhusaval, Malkapur, Shegaon, Akola, Badnera, Dhamangaon, Wardha, Hinganghat and Chandrapur.
Composition: One AC 2 Tier, Five AC-3 Tier, 8 Sleeper class and 6 General Second Class.
Reservation: Bookings for Special Train No. 02041/01117/02043/01123 and 02049/01480 special trains on special charges will open from 29.2.2020 at all PRS locations and o¬n website www.irctc.co.in. General second class coaches will run as unreserved coaches and tickets can be booked through UTS as applicable to superfast mail/express trains.
Speical Trains for Jharkhand from Bihar
According to Hindustan Smart, numbers trains are available in this route. Those passengers going from Jharkhand to Bihar or Delhi on the occasion of Holi can book the following trains.
Among the special trains from Jharkhand to Bihar is 07005 Hyderabad Raxaul which runs on Friday. Apart from this, 07007 Secunderabad Darbhanga (Wed, Sun), Hatia Purnia Court (Daily), Ranchi Patna Janshatabdi (Daily), Hatia Gorakhpur Maurya X (Daily) and Rourkela Jayanagar Express run three days a week.
At present there are more than seven trains a week to Delhi. On four days Rajdhani is running while three days Garib Rath Express is also available for passengers. Travellers to Delhi can also take Sambalpur Jammutvi Express.