Indian Railways has announced 89 special trains over the next three days, starting Saturday, to help thousands of passengers stranded across the country after mass IndiGo flight cancellations disrupted travel plans nationwide.

The Railway Ministry coordinated the emergency deployment after assessing traffic pressure in key hubs including New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, Patna and Howrah. Officials said the trains will make over 100 trips, with the number likely to rise depending on passenger load.

Dilip Kumar, Executive Director, Information & Publicity, Railway Board, said zones have been instructed to use all available rolling stock and manpower to ensure safe operations for stranded passengers. He said, “The number of special trains and their trips might increase further depending on the traffic scenario.”

Railway divisions have begun informing passengers about these services, including by sharing details at nearby airports. South Eastern Railway has issued a press release and requested the Airport Authority to display information about the newly introduced trains.

A press note said Western Railway will operate seven special trains on special fare routes, including:

  • Mumbai Central–New Delhi
  • Mumbai Central–Bhiwani
  • Mumbai Central–Shakur Basti
  • Bandra Terminus–Durgapura
  • Valsad–Bilaspur
  • Sabarmati–Delhi
  • Sabarmati–Delhi Sarai Rohilla

South Central Railway announced four special trains to handle the surge caused by the large-scale IndiGo cancellations.

Central Railway and Northern Railway have planned 14 and 10 special trains respectively, with officials noting that the numbers are being reassessed to meet rising demand. Other zones have also issued notifications with schedules.

What led to the rush for trains

IndiGo has faced five days of severe operational disruption, with large-scale cancellations and delays affecting thousands of passengers. Many travellers have also reported misplaced baggage, adding to the chaos during one of the busiest travel periods.