Indian Railways adds 18,262 summer trains

India’s Ministry of Railways said on April 20 that Indian Railways will operate 18,262 summer special train trips nationwide over the next three months. (pib.gov.in) The ministry said 11,294 of those trips had already been notified when it announced the plan. It said the extra services are meant to widen connectivity and provide relief during the peak summer travel season. (pib.gov.in) Indian Railways uses “special” trains as temporary extra services when regular schedules cannot absorb surges in demand. Summer is one of the system’s busiest periods because school holidays, family travel, and migrant movement all rise at once. (pib.gov.in 1) (pib.gov.in 2) The 2026 plan is larger than earlier summer-only deployments cited by the government. A Railways release in 2024 said 6,369 summer special trains were operated in 2023, while a 2025 Mumbai release announced another round of summer specials to handle demand. (pib.gov.in 1) (pib.gov.in 2) The network has been leaning more heavily on specials across peak periods, not just in summer. In its 2024 year-end review, the ministry said Indian Railways ran 21,513 special train trips during peak seasons in 2024. (pib.gov.in) Regional railways are also publishing route-level summer schedules, showing how the national figure is being translated into specific trains. Eastern Railway, for example, posted summer special train notices for routes including Howrah–New Jalpaiguri and Guwahati–Howrah. (er.indianrailways.gov.in 1) (er.indianrailways.gov.in 2) The government’s message is that capacity is being added before the April-to-June rush peaks. The test now is whether those 18,262 planned trips translate into easier bookings and less crowding on the platforms passengers feel first. (pib.gov.in)