As IndiGo’s cancellations continue for a fourth day and disrupt thousands of travellers, Indian Railways has stepped in as an essential alternative. It has expanded capacity by adding 116 coaches to 37 trains, resulting in 114 additional trips across the country to accommodate stranded passengers.
How Have the Railways Responded?
The Ministry of Railways has asked multiple zones to boost train capacity with more coaches, especially on premium and heavily used routes between major cities. The extra coaches include a mix of AC and Sleeper options to suit different travellers.
The key actions are:
- Southern Railway: Expanded capacity on 18 trains.
- Northern Railway: Added 3AC and Chair Car coaches to 8 trains, among them Rajdhani and Shatabdi.
- Western & East Central Railway: Upgraded important trains with AC coaches on Mumbai–Delhi and Patna–Delhi routes.
- East Coast & Eastern Railway: Boosted Bhubaneswar-Delhi and other key services with additional Sleeper and 2AC coaches.
- Northeast Frontier Railway: Ensured uninterrupted capacity for Northeast travellers by augmenting two important trains.
What Are Officials Saying?
Railway officials confirmed the measures are a direct response to the sudden spike in demand caused by flight cancellations. Himanshu Shekhar Upadhyay, Chief Public Relations Officer of Northern Railway, stated that coaches have been added to premium trains like the Jammu and Dibrugarh Rajdhanis, as well as the Chandigarh and Amritsar Shatabdis.
Officials said they are closely tracking the situation and are ready to run special all-AC trains on key inter-city routes if required, ensuring travellers have a dependable backup option.
What is the Latest on the IndiGo Crisis?
The trigger for this railway intervention is the ongoing severe disruption in IndiGo’s operations, which continued for a fourth consecutive day on Friday with over 1,000 flights cancelled. The airline, which controls about two-thirds of India’s domestic air traffic, has stated that operations may take up to 10 days to normalise.
The crisis stems from the airline’s poor planning for the new Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) rules, which require longer rest hours for crew. The DGCA has given the airline temporary relaxations and has also launched an inquiry into the disruptions affecting travellers across the country.
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Your Questions Answered: Railways’ Response FAQs
Q: Which railway zones have added the most capacity?
A: Southern Railway has made the most additions, upgrading 18 trains. Northern Railway has also increased capacity on 8 major premium trains.
Q: What types of coaches are being added?
A: The additions include AC Chair Cars for daytime travel, along with 3AC, 2AC, and Sleeper coaches for overnight journeys, catering to different budgets and passenger needs.
Q: Are these extra coaches on new trains or existing ones?
A: They are extra carriages that are added to already-running, scheduled trains (such as Rajdhanis and Shatabdis), hence expanding the number of seats available on those particular routes.
Q: How long will these augmented services run?
A: As the situation is monitored, particular excursions are planned for the upcoming days (e.g., December 6–13). The augmentations are being implemented starting on December 6.
Q: What should affected air passengers do?
A: If a flight is cancelled, travelers should check with Indian Railways to see if there are any extra trains available. If the crisis continues, railway officials advise keeping an eye on official sources for announcements about special trains.
