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As the Sankranti festival 2026 approaches, Indian Railways has stepped up to manage the heavy travel demand from Hyderabad and surrounding regions. The South Central Railway (SCR) has announced 150 additional special trains to ease passenger movement and provide better connectivity during the festive period.
Why Special Trains Are Being Added
Sankranti, celebrated in mid-January, is one of the busiest travel seasons in India. Millions of passengers from Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and neighbouring states travel to their hometowns to celebrate the festival with family. This surge often leads to fully booked regular trains and long waitlists. To manage this, SCR has introduced a large number of festival special services across key routes.
Key Features of the Train Services
- Total Extra Services Announced: 150 special trains
- Purpose: Handle festival travel rush and clear waitlisted passengers
- Routes Covered: Includes services from Hyderabad and connecting stations to Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Kakinada, Srikakulam, Narsapuram, Vizag, and more.
Railway officials said the additional trains will provide better travel options for passengers travelling to popular destinations during the Sankranti period, making journeys smoother and more convenient.
Changes at Hyderabad Stations
With the high travel volume expected, special arrangements and route adjustments are being made at key stations:
- Secunderabad Station: Due to redevelopment works and heavy passenger traffic, some regular and special trains may be shifted to alternate terminals such as Charlapalli, Kacheguda and Lingampalli to ease congestion and boarding pressure.
- Additional HALTs: Many Sankranti special trains will also be provided halts at stations like HighTech City to improve accessibility across the city.
Travel Tips for Sankranti Passengers
To make festival travel smoother, passengers are advised to:
- Book tickets early; special trains fill up quickly once bookings open
- Check updated schedules on the official Indian Railways or SCR website before departure
- Arrive early at stations experiencing maintenance or redevelopment work
- Keep valid ID proof and reservation details handy for travel
What This Means for Travellers
The additional Sankranti special trains aim to:
- Reduce waitlists on popular routes
- Provide more travel choices and flexibility
- Spread the load across multiple terminals and stations
- Ease pressure on regular services during peak travel days
With 150 extra trains and improved station arrangements, the railways are working to make Sankranti travel from Hyderabad and neighbouring regions more comfortable and manageable for passengers.
