Massive Rail Operation for Mahakumbh: 26 Special Trains Take the Tracks
Managing a crowd the size of a small city isn’t a regular Monday for anyone, but that’s exactly the challenge Indian Railways faces with the Maha Kumbh Mela set for 2025. With lakhs of pilgrims journeying to Prayagraj, the Northeastern Railway (NER) is rolling out Mahakumbh special trains in full force—26 of them just today. Out of these, three will start their journey from Gorakhpur, a crucial railway hub in eastern Uttar Pradesh.
The crowd isn’t just any gathering. Visitors come from every corner of the country, packing platforms and trains, often clambering aboard with bags and kids in tow. For railway officials, keeping this moving circus smooth is an annual test of nerves. The focus this year is clearly on keeping passengers moving—and safe—as the spiritual mega-event picks up steam.
Routes, Delays, and Temporary Adjustments
If you’re catching a train from Gorakhpur to Prayagraj, you still have the ever-popular Vande Bharat Express (Train No. 22549/22550) working on its usual schedule. No shuffled departures or new stoppages for this service on February 17, 2025—so if your ticket reads Vande Bharat, no cause for last-minute panic.
But not everyone has been so lucky with timings. Several of the other Mahakumbh specials have run into delays. For instance, the Phaphamau Kumbh Special (Train No. 04016) lagged behind by a jaw-dropping 10 hours. Another special (Train No. 04528) was just shy of 7 and a half hours late, while two more—Train Nos. 04316 and 04526—clocked in at over three hours behind schedule. For anyone who’s traveled Indian trains, delays may not shock you, but 10 hours can throw a pilgrim’s plan massively off-track.
Route tweaks are also in play. The Prayagraj-Lucknow Intercity Express (Train No. 14209) will, for a spell, start from the smaller Prayag Station rather than the main Prayagraj Junction. This change holds from February 17 to February 28, likely an attempt to un-jam the city’s busiest platforms during the rush period.
Meanwhile, NER has beefed up station security. Special RPF (Railway Protection Force) units now patrol the platforms and concourses, guiding lost travelers and keeping an eye out for troublemakers. Station infrastructure has also had a facelift. Over a thousand (1,146 to be exact) CCTV cameras have popped up with a focus on crowd areas, and sanitation workers have been added to keep the place, if not sparkling, at least bearable for the enormous crowd.
Lest you think this is a regional effort, it’s clear the mission is all-India. Northern Railway is chipping in with over 300 more special trains, and Western Railway has thrown in nearly a hundred more. This massive network connects cities like Delhi, Kolkata, and towns across Jharkhand directly to the grand event in Prayagraj. Indian Railways is pushing its booking options hard, offering tickets through the IRCTC website and app, and pitching group bookings as the best way for pilgrimage parties to travel together.
The Mahakumbh is more than just a religious gathering—it’s India’s logistical marvel in action. Whether you’re a pilgrim, a traveler, or just an observer, the railways’ efforts to keep everyone moving, fed, and, above all, safe are worth paying attention to this festival season.
