Indian Railways adds special trains and extra coaches after IndiGo flight cancellations

Stranded passengers wait in queues to enquire about flight status at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport amid IndiGo flight disruptions, in Ahmedabad. Pic/PTI

In the wake of mass cancellations of Indigo flights, Indian Railways has stepped in to manage the sudden travel chaos, offering immediate relief to stranded passengers. To handle the spike in demand, Western Railway (WR) has added extra AC chair car coaches on key long-distance trains, while Central Railway (CR) has announced seven special trains.

On WR, additional coaches have been attached to Train No. 12951 (Mumbai-New Delhi) and Train No. 12957 (Sabarmati-New Delhi) on multiple dates between December 6 and 10. These coaches will return via their pairing trains, 12952 and 12958, on corresponding dates to ensure smooth turnaround and continued availability.

In total 37 trains have been arranged so far.

As IndiGo's nationwide cancellations continue to disrupt travel, CR will operate seven Train On Demand services to help stranded passengers reach their destinations.

The special services cover high-demand and long-distance routes from Mumbai and Pune, connecting major metros and important junctions.

Railway officials said these additional services aim to "tide over the sudden passenger rush" triggered by the aviation sector's crisis. Along with the extra coaches already attached to several long-distance trains, the move highlights the Railways' role as the country's most reliable emergency transporter.

The trains announced are: CSMT-Nagpur, CSMT-Nizamuddin, CSMT-Howrah, Pune-Bangalore, CSMT-Varanasi-Lucknow, Nagpur-Pune and CSMT-Madgaon.

Officials said the decision was taken on priority to "clear the rush of wait-listed passengers" and ensure that those affected by the aviation disruption are not left stranded.

With the rapid deployment of additional capacity, the Railways have once again proven to be a dependable lifeline for the public, stepping in at a critical moment to keep the nation moving.

Dec 6 to 10
Days Railways will make special arrangements