Train travel from Ahmedabad to major North Indian cities like Delhi, Varanasi, Patna, and Haridwar is already heavily booked for May, with many trains showing long waiting lists or even ‘regret’ status.
The rush is especially high on the Haridwar route, where sleeper class waiting lists range between 80 and 130 in the first half of May. Similar crowding is seen in 3AC coaches, particularly on the Yoga Express from Sabarmati station.
Trains heading towards Bihar, including routes to Barauni, are also in high demand, with waiting lists touching 100 in sleeper class and around 50 in 3AC.
Services to Patna are expected to be fully packed, as waiting lists have crossed 130 on several dates, even weeks before departure.
Trains to Puri are also witnessing steady demand, with waiting lists of 30 to 40 across different classes, mainly due to seasonal travel by workers.
Overall, more than 16 trains heading to North India currently have waiting lists above 100.
Railway officials said that additional holiday special trains will be announced soon. Under the ‘train-on-demand’ system, extra trains may also be introduced at short notice on high-demand routes.
Tips for Passengers:
- Choose the ‘Vikalp’ option while booking for alternative trains
- Check for vacant seats after chart preparation on the IRCTC app
- Consider breaking the journey via connecting routes like Ratlam, Kota, or Mathura