Central Railway Runs Special Trains; Help Desk Set Up at Pune Airport for Stranded Flyers
Pune, 8th December 2025: As large numbers of travellers struggle to find alternate transport options due to widespread IndiGo flight cancellations, Central Railway has stepped in with a series of special long-distance trains connecting major cities across India.
Speaking about the initiative, Swapnil Nila, Chief Public Relations Officer of Central Railway, said the move is aimed at easing the inconvenience faced by affected passengers. “These special services will operate on important routes such as Madgaon, Nagpur, Bengaluru, Delhi’s Hazrat Nizamuddin, Hyderabad, Gorakhpur, Howrah, Sealdah and Bilaspur,” he said. According to him, the rakes will comprise a mix of AC 1st, AC 2-Tier, AC 3-Tier, Sleeper and General coaches to “ensure options for every category of traveller”.
A senior railway official added that several services are already on track and will run until December 12. He listed the routes being operated, including Nagpur–CSMT–Nagpur, CSMT–Hazrat Nizamuddin, Pune–KSR Bengaluru–Pune, LTT–Madgaon–LTT, Pune–Hazrat Nizamuddin–Pune, Hyderabad–LTT–Hyderabad, Howrah–CSMT–Howrah, Sealdah–LTT–Sealdah, Gorakhpur–LTT–Gorakhpur, Bilaspur–LTT–Bilaspur and Hyderabad–Hadapsar–Hyderabad.
To assist air passengers at the city’s airport, Pune Railway Division has opened a help desk. Hemant Kumar Behera, Divisional Commercial Manager and Public Relations Officer for the division, said railway staff are coordinating closely with airport authorities. “Travellers whose flights have been cancelled can approach our team to check available trains, timings and ticket options. Bookings will have to be made by passengers via the IRCTC app or counters. The desk will continue functioning until flight operations stabilize,” he stated.
Many passengers welcomed the measure, though some raised concerns over timely travel. A flyer waiting at Pune airport said that while trains may be useful for those without urgent commitments, delays continue to be a challenge. “For years, Pune–Howrah services are almost always late. People prefer flying because they need faster connections. Special trains might help, but only if travellers are ready for long delays—just like what’s happening with flights right now,” the passenger remarked.
