Indian Railways Expands Capacity with Special Trains Amid IndiGo Disruptions

In response to recent travel disruptions caused by IndiGo, Indian Railways has launched special trains and added extra AC coaches to long-distance services. This initiative aims to provide alternative travel options for passengers. Key routes such as Pune-Bengaluru and Mumbai-Goa are now serviced by these special trains, with more expected to follow. The railway has also enhanced capacity on existing routes, accommodating a significant increase in passenger numbers. With the addition of premium train services, the network is set to manage a substantial influx of travelers during this challenging period. Read on to discover more about these developments and how they impact travelers.

By Narendra Chaudhary Dec 6, 2025, 13:07 IST

Railways Introduce Special Services to Alleviate Passenger Pressure

On Saturday, Indian Railways announced the launch of special trains on key corridors and the addition of extra AC coaches to long-distance services, aiming to ease the burden on travelers seeking alternative options following several days of disruptions by IndiGo. Railway officials indicated that special trains have been initiated by the Central, Western, North Western, and Eastern Railways, with more services expected to commence as additional rakes become available.

Key Routes with Special Train Services

The special services are operational on major routes including Pune-Bengaluru, Pune-Delhi, Mumbai-New Delhi, Mumbai-Goa, Lucknow-Mumbai, Nagpur-Mumbai, and Gorakhpur-Mumbai. Additionally, the Eastern Railway has announced a special train from Howrah to New Delhi, scheduled to depart on December 6 and return on December 8. On the western coast, a reserved Mumbai-Madgaon special train will run on December 7 to accommodate holiday and weekend travelers, with a return journey planned for the following day. Officials noted that these services are being continuously added based on real-time demand assessments.

Enhancements to Existing Routes

In conjunction with the new trains, the railway has strengthened capacity on existing interstate routes by adding extra AC coaches to popular services such as the Bengaluru-Agartala Humsafar Express, Mangaluru-Thiruvananthapuram Express, Bengaluru-Chennai Express, and the Mumbai-Mangaluru sector. A total of 116 coaches have been added across 37 trains in various zones, increasing passenger capacity by accommodating approximately 4.9 lakh travelers.

Increase in Premium Train Services

The Northern Railway has also increased the number of premium trains, adding 3AC coaches to Jammu and Dibrugarh Rajdhani services, as well as additional chair cars to Chandigarh and Amritsar Shatabdi trains. According to officials, the network is currently managing an additional 35,000 passengers daily and is expected to serve around 2.6 million travelers during this period of aviation instability.