Extra trains, more AC coaches: Railways ramps up effort amid IndiGo’s nationwide meltdown
Mangalore Today News Network
New Delhi, December 6, 2025: Indian Railways on Saturday expanded capacity by introducing special trains across major corridors and attaching additional AC coaches to key long-distance services.
The measures are aimed at easing the pressure on passengers scrambling for alternative travel options after days of IndiGo disruptions.
Railway officials said special trains have been launched by Central, Western, North Western and Eastern Railways, with more expected as rakes become available.
Among the prominent routes receiving special services are Pune–Bengaluru, Pune–Delhi, Mumbai–New Delhi, Mumbai–Goa, Lucknow–Mumbai, Nagpur–Mumbai and Gorakhpur–Mumbai.
Eastern Railway has also announced a Howrah–New Delhi special that departs on December 6, with the return journey scheduled for December 8.
On the western coast, a reserved Mumbai–Madgaon special will run on December 7, with the return trip the next day to handle the holiday and weekend rush. Officials said these services are being added continually “based on real-time assessment of demand."
Alongside the new trains, Railways has strengthened capacity on existing routes by attaching extra AC coaches to popular interstate services such as the Bengaluru–Agartala Humsafar Express, Mangaluru–Thiruvananthapuram Express, Bengaluru–Chennai Express and the Mumbai–Mangaluru sector.
Across zones, 116 coaches have been added to 37 trains, increasing accommodation on 114 trips and carrying nearly 4.9 lakh passengers.
Northern Railway has also augmented premium trains, adding 3AC coaches to the Jammu and Dibrugarh Rajdhani services and additional Chair Cars on the Chandigarh and Amritsar Shatabdi trains.
According to officials, the network is currently managing an additional 35,000 passengers every day, with overall arrangements expected to cater to nearly 26 lakh travellers during this period of aviation instability.
The ministry is also examining the possibility of launching fully air-conditioned special trains on high-demand routes if flight disruptions continue.
“With air travel severely hit, our priority is ensuring that no passenger is left without an option," a senior railway official said. “We are prepared to add more special services and more coaches as the situation evolves."