Indian Railways to Run 300 Special Trains for Puri Rath Yatra, 100 Extra Services for Kerala’s Onam: Ashwini Vaishnaw

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Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has announced a major festive travel plan, with Indian Railways set to operate over 300 special trains for the Jagannath Rath Yatra in Puri and more than 100 additional trains during Kerala’s Onam festival. The move aims to ease passenger congestion and improve connectivity during two of India’s biggest religious and cultural celebrations.

Indian Railways will operate more than 300 special trains for the upcoming Jagannath Rath Yatra in Odisha’s Puri and over 100 additional trains for the Onam festival in Kerala, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced on Monday.

The announcement came during an event at Rail Sadan in Bhubaneswar, where the minister also flagged off new railway services aimed at strengthening regional connectivity. Vaishnaw said the Railways is preparing extensively to accommodate the massive influx of passengers expected during the festive season.

Massive preparations for Rath Yatra

The annual Jagannath Rath Yatra is among India’s largest religious gatherings, drawing millions of devotees from across the country and abroad. To manage the expected rush, Indian Railways has planned an extensive network of special trains in addition to its regular services.

According to the minister, these special trains will connect Puri with various parts of Odisha and neighbouring states, enabling devotees to travel safely and conveniently during the festival. The move is expected to significantly reduce overcrowding at railway stations and onboard regular trains.

Additional services for Onam travellers

Recognising the heavy travel demand during Onam, Kerala’s biggest annual festival, Indian Railways will also introduce more than 100 special trains. The additional services are intended to help lakhs of Malayalees working and studying across India return home for the celebrations.

The extra trains will supplement existing services and increase seat availability during one of the busiest travel periods in southern India.

Record number of special trains

Highlighting the Railways’ recent operational achievements, Vaishnaw said that nearly 15,000 special trains were operated during the summer travel season that concluded on June 30, describing it as a record initiative to handle seasonal passenger demand.

He said the experience gained from managing the summer rush would help ensure smoother operations during upcoming festivals.

New train services launched

Alongside the festive travel announcement, the Railway Minister virtually flagged off new train services, including the Brahmapur–Surat (Udhna) Amrit Bharat Express and the Puri–Koraput Express, aimed at improving rail connectivity within Odisha and linking the state with western India.

The newly introduced services are expected to boost tourism, enhance passenger convenience, and support regional economic development.

Focus on passenger convenience

Indian Railways has increasingly relied on special trains during festivals and holiday seasons to manage peak travel demand. The additional services announced for Rath Yatra and Onam are expected to reduce waiting lists, improve travel comfort, and ensure smoother transportation for millions of passengers.

Officials are expected to release detailed schedules, routes, and booking information for the special trains closer to the commencement of the respective festivals.

The announcement reflects Indian Railways’ growing emphasis on demand-based operational planning. By deploying hundreds of special trains during major festivals, the Railways aims to improve passenger experience, reduce congestion, and optimise network capacity. Such targeted seasonal operations not only support religious tourism and regional economies but also demonstrate how data-driven scheduling is becoming central to India’s expanding railway system.

This is a developing story. More updates will follow as new information becomes available.