In a swift response to a sudden spike in travel demand, Indian Railways has rolled out significant capacity enhancements across its network. This move comes directly as a consequence of widespread flight cancellations by the budget carrier IndiGo, which has left thousands of passengers seeking alternative transport options.
Railways' Rapid Response to Air Travel Disruption
The national transporter has initiated a major augmentation drive, adding 116 additional coaches to 37 different trains. This initiative will result in over 114 augmented trips across various routes in the country, ensuring adequate accommodation for the surge of travelers. The additional capacity is being deployed immediately to alleviate the pressure on other modes of transport.
Regional Breakdown of Coach Augmentation
The augmentations have been strategically implemented across different railway zones to cater to high-demand corridors:
Southern Railway (SR) has taken the most proactive steps, enhancing capacity on 18 trains. It has deployed extra Chair Car and Sleeper Class coaches on routes witnessing the highest demand.
Northern Railway (NR) has bolstered eight of its trains by adding coaches in the 3AC and Chair Car classes. These measures, effective immediately, are aimed at improving seat availability on the heavily congested northern corridors connecting to the national capital.
Western Railway (WR) has augmented four high-demand trains with additional 3AC and 2AC coaches. These enhancements, active from 6 December 2025, are designed to cater to the strong passenger movement from western regions towards Delhi.
East Central Railway (ECR) has strengthened the important Rajendra Nagar–New Delhi service (12309). It has added extra 2AC coaches over five trips between 6–10 December 2025, boosting capacity on the crucial Bihar–Delhi sector.
East Coast Railway (ECOR) has augmented key Bhubaneswar–New Delhi services (Trains 20817, 20811, 20823) by attaching 2AC coaches across five trips. This improves connectivity and capacity between Odisha and the capital.
Eastern Railway (ER) has implemented augmentations in three key trains, adding Sleeper Class coaches over six trips on 7–8 December 2025. This addresses increased regional and inter-state travel demand in the eastern part of the country.
Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) has augmented two vital trains with 3AC and Sleeper coaches. These will operate over eight trips each from 6–13 December 2025, ensuring consistent capacity for travelers in the Northeast region.
Ensuring Smooth Travel During Crisis
The proactive steps by Indian Railways highlight its role as a resilient backbone of the country's transportation infrastructure. By dynamically reallocating resources and adding coaches to specific trains, the railways are providing a critical safety net for passengers affected by aviation disruptions. This large-scale capacity increase is expected to significantly ease travel woes and offer a reliable alternative during a period of uncertainty in the aviation sector.
