Patna: In a major relief for passengers across Bihar’s Seemanchal region, the Northeast Frontier (NF) Railway has announced five pairs of Holi special trains to help people travel home during the festival season. The additional services will directly benefit residents of Kishanganj, Katihar and surrounding districts, where thousands of migrant workers depend on trains to return from other states.
Every year, Holi brings heavy crowding at railway stations in north-east Bihar as workers from Punjab, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and the north-east try to head home. With regular trains often fully booked, passengers face long waiting lists and overcrowded coaches. Railway officials said the special services have been introduced specifically to manage this rush and provide safer and more comfortable travel options.
The temporary trains will connect Bihar towns with major destinations including Gorakhpur, Amritsar, Jaynagar, Muzaffarpur and Lalkuan. According to NF Railway’s chief public relations officer, Kapinjal Kumar Sharma, approvals have been granted and more services may be added if demand increases. He said the focus is to ensure that people from Seemanchal and adjoining areas of north Bengal can reach home without difficulty during the festival.
Indian Railways has also scaled up operations nationwide. After running 1,144 special services last year, the network plans to operate nearly 1,500 trains this festive season, reflecting the sharp rise in passenger demand. Officials say this expansion will ease pressure on long-distance routes that see heavy traffic from Bihar.
For Bihar passengers, key services include the Kishanganj–Lalkuan weekly special, Katihar–Amritsar train for travellers working in Punjab, and New Jalpaiguri–Muzaffarpur and Jaynagar connections linking north and central Bihar. The Narang–Gorakhpur service will also provide an important link to eastern Uttar Pradesh.
Railway authorities said the new trains are expected to significantly reduce waiting lists and overcrowding, making Holi travel smoother for thousands of families planning to reunite for the festival.
