Railway authorities said the number of special trains could rise further depending on demand and traffic conditions. (File Photo)
Mass cancellations of IndiGo flights left thousands of passengers searching for last-minute travel options this week. As airports saw long queues and rising frustration, Indian Railways stepped in to ease the pressure. The Railways launched a large nationwide response to help stranded travellers reach their destinations without further delays.
In response to widespread cancellations by IndiGo, Indian Railways announced on Saturday that it will run 84 special trains across different zones. These trains — initially scheduled to make 104 trips — aim to provide alternate transport for passengers left stranded due to the airline’s disrupted flight operations.
Railway authorities said the number of special trains could rise further depending on demand and traffic conditions. All zones have been asked to mobilise extra rolling stock and manpower to ensure safe and timely travel for thousands of affected passengers.
Apart from launching special trains, Indian Railways has also boosted capacity on existing services. A total of 37 trains have been augmented with 116 extra coaches, covering 114 additional trips across the country. This expansion is expected to help handle a surge of tens of thousands of travellers.
Southern Railway led the enhancements with the highest number of augmented trains. Other zones, including Northern Railway, also added coaches to key long-distance routes, including high-demand Rajdhani and Shatabdi services.
The special trains span across major cities and high-traffic corridors such as New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, Patna, and Howrah. Western Railway, for example, announced seven special trains on routes including Mumbai–Delhi, Bandra Terminus–Durgapura, Valsad–Bilaspur, and Sabarmati–Delhi.
Other zones — Central Railway, South Central Railway, South Eastern Railway, and more — have also lined up special services to meet increased travel demand. These moves are designed to ease the burden on air passengers and restore connectivity disrupted by flight cancellations.
The decision comes after several days of extensive flight cancellations by IndiGo left thousands of travellers stranded and scrambling for alternatives. With airports clogged and uncertainty high, rail travel emerged as the most reliable fallback — prompting Indian Railways to act swiftly.
Railway officials noted that the plan was laid out after reviewing traffic patterns and anticipating demand surges. They emphasised readiness to deploy additional trains or coaches if needed, to avoid further chaos and overcrowding.
If your IndiGo flight was cancelled, check rail-booking platforms for special train services and extra coaches.
Keep an eye on updated schedules — Railways zones are updating times and routes in response to evolving demand.
Arrive at stations early, and watch for official notices displayed at airports or railway counters about the new services.
With this large-scale rail intervention, Indian Railways seeks to plug the gap left by the aviation crisis and offer hope to thousands of stranded travellers. Whether this will fully offset the disruption depends on how quickly trains roll out and whether demand continues to rise.
