South Central Railway runs nearly 400 special trains to manage festival rush

South Central Railway is operating nearly 400 special trains during the ongoing festival season to manage a surge in passenger demand. The zone expects a daily footfall of about 4.6 lakh passengers across major stations this month.

Destinations And Safety

The special trains mainly serve passengers travelling to states like Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, and other eastern and northeastern regions for the Chhath festival. High-demand destinations include Darbhanga, Patna, Chhapra, Sasaram, Danapur, Gorakhpur, Prayagraj, Shalimar, and Howrah. Additional ticket-checking staff and Railway Protection Force personnel are deployed at stations to regulate movement, prevent overcrowding, and manage the heavy traffic. Personnel guide passengers into orderly queues, while passenger holding areas at key stations accommodate travellers during peak hours and reduce platform congestion.

Announcements And Pilgrims

Frequent public announcements regarding train arrivals, departures, numbers, and coach positions help travellers move efficiently within stations. Furthermore, South Central Railway is operating 54 special trains for Sabarimala pilgrims until January, running between Hyderabad, Cherlapalli, and Kollam.

Context

Major Indian festivals often cause massive travel rushes as millions of people journey back to their home states to celebrate with families. Railway networks routinely deploy special services and extra security staff during such peak periods to manage heavy crowds and maintain order at major hubs.