New Delhi: In the wake of continuing flight cancellations and operational chaos at IndiGo, the Indian Railways has announced the operation of 89 special trains across the country over the next three days, beginning Saturday, to help stranded passengers reach their destinations. The move comes as the airline’s disruptions have left thousands of travelers scrambling for alternative travel options.

According to the Railway Ministry, the special trains are scheduled to make over 100 trips, covering major cities including New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, Patna, and Howrah. Officials have emphasized that these arrangements were made in a short span of time, after a thorough analysis of train traffic and passenger demand across key zones.

Dilip Kumar, Executive Director, Information & Publicity, Railway Board, stated, “The number of special trains and their trips might increase further depending on the traffic scenario. All zones have been asked to make use of all available resources, including rolling stock as well as manpower, to safely operate these trains for the convenience of lakhs of passengers stranded at different parts of the country due to flight cancellations.”

Coordinated Efforts Across Zones

Railway authorities have taken extra measures to ensure that passengers are aware of these special trains. In some cases, information has been displayed at airports to assist travelers in redirecting their journeys via rail. The South Eastern Railway issued a press release requesting the Airport Authority to prominently display details about the newly introduced services.

Different railway zones have also laid out specific plans for special train operations:

• Western Railway: Seven special trains will run between Mumbai Central–New Delhi, Mumbai Central–Bhiwani, Mumbai Central–Shakur Basti, Bandra Terminus–Durgapura, Valsad–Bilaspur, Sabarmati–Delhi, and Sabarmati–Delhi Sarai Rohilla, operating at special fares.
• South Central Railway: Four special trains were announced on Saturday to manage the surge of passengers affected by flight cancellations.
• Central Railway and Northern Railway: 14 and 10 special trains have been planned, respectively, with the possibility of more being introduced depending on passenger demand.
• Other zones have issued notifications regarding their special trains, along with schedules, to ensure travelers have access to alternative routes.

Passenger Hardships Fuel Urgent Response

For at least five consecutive days, IndiGo flight operations have been severely disrupted, leading to mass cancellations, delays, and widespread inconvenience for passengers. In several instances, baggage has been misplaced, further aggravating the situation.

Railway officials emphasized that the special trains are intended to alleviate the strain on stranded passengers, offering an immediate and reliable alternative to air travel. With hundreds of thousands of passengers impacted by the ongoing airline disruptions, authorities are taking every possible measure to ensure smooth operations and timely information dissemination.

The move demonstrates the Railways’ flexibility and responsiveness during a crisis, highlighting the vital role of train services in supporting the country’s transport network, especially when airlines face operational challenges. Passengers are advised to stay updated on schedules and avail of the special services to avoid further inconvenience.

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