244 special trains carried over 4.5 lakh devotees during Mauni Amavasya: Railway Ministry

January 19, 2026

New Delhi: Indian Railways successfully managed rail traffic during the Mauni Amavasya period by operating 244 special trains across the country since January 3, ensuring smooth and convenient travel for devotees, according to an official statement issued by the Ministry of Railways on Monday. These included 31 trains of Northern Railway (NR), 158 of North Central Railway (NCR) and 55 of North Eastern Railway (NER), collectively serving around 4.5 lakh passengers.

The special services were introduced to facilitate hassle-free and safe travel during the peak festive period.

Prayagraj Sees Peak Movement on January 18

Prayagraj witnessed the peak of festive travel on January 18, with 40 special trains in operation, including 11 of NR, 22 of NCR and seven of NER, carrying approximately one lakh passengers. Notably, all regular trains continued to run as per schedule, reflecting effective planning and operational efficiency by Indian Railways.

“The successful operation of these special trains reflects Indian Railways’ commitment to providing safe, convenient and uninterrupted services to passengers during peak festive periods,” the statement said, highlighting the use of technology, resource planning and inter-zonal coordination.

Large-Scale Special Train Operations Throughout 2025

Earlier, Indian Railways operated more than 43,000 special train trips in 2025 to manage passenger rush during major religious festivals and peak holiday seasons. One of the largest such operations was undertaken for the Maha Kumbh, with 17,340 special train trips operated between January 13 and February 28, 2025, facilitating the movement of a massive number of pilgrims.

For Holi, 1,144 special train trips were run between March 1 and March 22, 2025—nearly double the number operated in Holi 2024. During the summer travel season from April 1 to June 30, 2025, Indian Railways operated 12,417 Summer Special train trips. Additionally, for Chhath Puja 2025, 12,383 special train trips were operated between October 1 and November 30, marking a significant increase over the previous year, according to official figures.