Railways Deploys 116 Additional Coaches Across 37 Trains Amid Passenger Rush

New Delhi | Dec 06, 2025 With thousands of travellers stranded after IndiGo cancelled all its domestic flights from Delhi until midnight, the Indian Railways stepped in quickly to manage the sudden rush. As airport terminals struggled with long lines and confused passengers, trains across the country began filling up fast, and the Railways had just one option — expand capacity at record speed. In a large-scale emergency response, the Railway Ministry announced that 116 additional coaches have been added to 37 premium trains operating over 114 boosted trips nationwide. The move, implemented from December 6, aims to ease the travel crunch caused by the airline disruption and ensure people can still reach their destinations without being stuck indefinitely. According to the ministry, Southern Railway led the effort by adding extra coaches to 18 trains. These included Chair Car and Sleeper Class coaches on several busy routes where demand usually spikes even without flight cancellations. Officials said the added capacity would help absorb the heavy passenger load in the southern region, where bookings shot up soon after IndiGo’s announcement. Northern Railway was next, boosting eight trains with additional 3AC and Chair Car coaches. These enhancements started today and target popular north-bound corridors that often see overwhelming crowds during any travel disruption. The ministry said this was crucial to keep the Delhi region from being further overwhelmed. Western Railway also added coaches to four high-demand trains, strengthening travel links between Mumbai, Gujarat, Rajasthan and the national capital. With thousands looking for alternatives to last-minute flight cancellations, these changes were rolled out immediately. East Central Railway stepped in by augmenting the Rajendra Nagar–New Delhi route, adding 2AC coaches over five trips between December 6 and 10. This move is expected to provide major relief to travellers moving between Bihar and Delhi during a period of unusually high demand. East Coast Railway also expanded capacity on key Bhubaneswar–New Delhi trains across five trips by adding 2AC coaches. The route is one of Odisha’s most crowded, and the sudden increase in bookings made the upgrade necessary. Eastern Railway added Sleeper Class coaches to three important trains over six trips scheduled for December 7 and 8. These additions cover regional and inter-state travel needs as passengers scrambled for alternatives. The Northeast Frontier Railway didn’t lag behind either. It attached 3AC and Sleeper coaches to two major trains operating across eight trips between December 6 and 13. With connectivity already limited in the Northeast, this was essential to prevent travel bottlenecks. Beyond these enhancements, Indian Railways has also launched four special trains to meet extraordinary demand. The Gorakhpur–Anand Vihar Terminal–Gorakhpur Special will run four trips from December 7 to 9. A special Vande Bharat service between New Delhi and Martyr Captain Tushar Mahajan station in Jammu is running today, providing a much-needed fast option for travellers headed north. To handle pressure on west-bound travel, a New Delhi–Mumbai Central Superfast Special is operating on December 6 and 7. Additionally, a one-way Superfast Special from Hazrat Nizamuddin to Thiruvananthapuram Central is running today to support long-distance movement toward the south. As IndiGo works through its operational issues, Indian Railways’ swift moves have become a lifeline for thousands of stranded passengers — showing once again that when air travel hits turbulence, the railways often become the country’s biggest safety net. Railways Deploys 116 Additional Coaches Across 37 Trains Amid Passenger Rush The sudden cancellation of all IndiGo domestic flights from Delhi threw travel plans into chaos, leaving thousands stranded at the airport. But before frustration could turn into full-blown panic, Indian Railways stepped in with a massive nationwide effort. To handle the surge in passengers, the Railways added 116 extra coaches to 37 premium trains across 114 boosted trips — all starting from December 6. Southern Railway led the charge, adding extra Sleeper and Chair Car coaches to 18 of its busiest trains. With travellers rushing to find any seat available, this move immediately eased pressure in the southern region. Northern Railway followed by expanding eight trains with more 3AC and Chair Car coaches, helping clear heavy crowding on popular north-bound routes. Western Railway also made quick adjustments, adding 2AC and 3AC coaches to four high-demand trains that connect western states with Delhi. Meanwhile, East Central Railway strengthened the busy Rajendra Nagar–New Delhi route with additional 2AC coaches over several trips between December 6 and 10 — a big relief for passengers from Bihar. East Coast Railway boosted major Bhubaneswar–New Delhi trains across five trips, and Eastern Railway added Sleeper coaches to three important services on December 7 and 8 to manage rising demand. The Northeast Frontier Railway expanded capacity as well, attaching 3AC and Sleeper coaches to key trains over eight trips from December 6 to 13. Along with all these changes, four special trains have also been launched, including the Gorakhpur–Anand Vihar Special, a special Vande Bharat to Jammu, a New Delhi–Mumbai Central Superfast, and a long-distance service from Hazrat Nizamuddin to Thiruvananthapuram. With air travel disrupted, Indian Railways has become the lifeline for stranded passengers — stepping up quickly when the country needed it most.