According to the Ministry of Railways, Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw reviewed the operation of summer special trains in New Delhi on Thursday, 23 April.
In a post on X, the ministry said: “Hon’ble MR Ashwini Vaishnaw reviews the operation of Summer Special Trains in New Delhi, as Indian Railways plans 18,262 special train trips during the peak summer travel period to ease passenger movement and strengthen connectivity across high-demand routes.”
Hon’ble MR Shri @AshwiniVaishnaw reviews the operation of Summer Special Trains in New Delhi, as Indian Railways plans 18,262 special train trips during the peak summer travel period to ease passenger movement and strengthen connectivity across high-demand routes.
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— Ministry of Railways (@RailMinIndia) April 24, 2026
As per the ministry, 908 special trains have been approved for this period, collectively accounting for 18,262 trips. So far, over 11,800 trips (660 trains) have already been officially notified and opened for booking, with the remaining services to be announced in phases.
“During the peak summer travel period (15 April–15 July 2026), the Railways is planning to operate 18,262 summer special train trips to enhance connectivity and ease congestion. This large-scale deployment reflects a calibrated approach supported by improved rake availability, optimised scheduling, and continuous monitoring,” the ministry said.
Efforts are focused on high-traffic hubs such as New Delhi, Mumbai (including LTT, CSMT and Pune), Surat (including Udhna), Ahmedabad and Bengaluru to ensure the smooth movement of passengers.
By deploying these special trains across high-demand routes, Indian Railways aims to minimise inconvenience during the seasonal rush. The large-scale rollout is designed to reduce waiting lists, increase the availability of confirmed berths, and strengthen connectivity between major cities and regions.
Through timely planning and the notification of thousands of additional trips, the Railways continues to prioritise passenger convenience and comfort.
Zone-wise details
Summer special trains will operate across all major zones of Indian Railways, ensuring balanced regional connectivity and efficient passenger handling. The zone-wise breakdown is as follows:
- South Central Railway: 124 trains (1,184 trips) approved; 76 trains (324 trips) notified
- Western Railway: 106 trains (2,078 trips) approved; 92 trains (1,667 trips) notified
- North Western Railway: 76 trains (2,245 trips) approved; 62 trains (1,878 trips) notified
- Northern Railway: 76 trains (2,090 trips) approved; 56 trains (1,535 trips) notified
- Central Railway: 74 trains (3,082 trips) approved; 70 trains (2,238 trips) notified
- Southern Railway: 72 trains (558 trips) approved; 38 trains (133 trips) notified
- East Central Railway: 64 trains (2,711 trips) approved; 38 trains (1,060 trips) notified
- North Central Railway: 54 trains (1,163 trips) approved; 46 trains (688 trips) notified
- North Eastern Railway: 52 trains (814 trips) approved; 34 trains (477 trips) notified
- East Coast Railway: 28 trains (410 trips) approved; 18 trains (88 trips) notified
- West Central Railway: 28 trains (408 trips) approved; 18 trains (192 trips) notified
- Eastern Railway: 24 trains (392 trips) approved; 10 trains (276 trips) notified
- Northeast Frontier Railway: 24 trains (220 trips) approved; 20 trains (141 trips) notified
- South Eastern Railway: 20 trains (276 trips) approved; 18 trains (250 trips) notified
- South East Central Railway: 10 trains (122 trips) approved; 8 trains (70 trips) notified
- South Western Railway: 76 trains (509 trips) approved; 56 trains (277 trips) notified
