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Raksha Bandhan Train Rush: Delhi-Gurugram to UP, Bihar Tickets Vanish… Why Passengers May Face a Tough Journey Home
With Raksha Bandhan approaching, several trains connecting Delhi and Gurugram with Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Bengal are already showing heavy demand, with some classes marked “Regret” and waiting-list bookings unavailable.
NEW DELHI: The festive travel rush has started much earlier than many passengers expected. With Raksha Bandhan approaching, travellers planning to head from Delhi and Gurugram towards Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Bengal are finding it increasingly difficult to secure confirmed railway tickets.
Several trains operating around August 25 to 27 are already showing heavy bookings, while some classes have reached the “Regret” status, meaning fresh waitlisted bookings are no longer being accepted.
For families planning to return home for the festival, the situation could become particularly challenging as the number of available direct trains from Gurugram Railway Station towards eastern and northern destinations remains limited.
Delhi Trains Also Running Out of Space
A large number of passengers from Gurugram depend on nearby Delhi railway stations to board long-distance trains because there are relatively few direct services connecting Gurugram with cities across Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Bengal.
But the additional option may not provide much relief this time.
Several popular trains originating from or passing through Delhi are already heavily booked for the peak travel dates. In some cases, even waiting-list availability has disappeared.
This means passengers who have not yet made reservations may have to look at alternatives such as Tatkal tickets, general coaches or road travel.
August 26 and 27 Could Be the Most Difficult Days
The booking situation appears especially tight for journeys scheduled on August 26 and August 27.
Some trains on these dates have already reached the “Regret” stage across multiple classes.
Among the trains showing heavy demand are:
- 14322 Bhuj-Bareilly Express
- 15716 Garib Nawaz Express
- 20939 Sabarmati-Sultanpur Express
- 15623 Bhagat Ki Kothi-Kamakhya Express
- 14312 Bhuj-Bareilly Express
- 12372 Bikaner-Howrah Express
The availability varies depending on the class and travel date, but several combinations are already showing extremely high waiting lists or no further waitlist bookings.
What Does ‘Regret’ Mean for Railway Passengers?
For passengers checking availability on Indian Railways, the appearance of “Regret” can be particularly frustrating.
It generally indicates that the booking has crossed the permitted waiting-list limit and passengers cannot obtain even a waitlisted ticket for that particular class and train.
In other words, simply booking early may no longer be enough for travellers who have left their Raksha Bandhan plans until the last minute.
Tatkal Tickets Could Become the Next Big Battle
With regular tickets becoming difficult to find, many passengers are expected to turn towards Tatkal booking.
Tatkal tickets are generally released shortly before the journey, giving passengers an additional opportunity to secure a seat when regular reservations are unavailable.
However, festive demand could make this option extremely competitive.
Thousands of passengers may attempt to book limited Tatkal seats at the same time, meaning tickets can disappear within minutes.
Passengers therefore need to keep their journey details, passenger information and payment method ready before the booking window opens.
Passengers Demand Special Trains
The growing demand has also prompted passengers to call for special trains during the Raksha Bandhan period.
Travellers heading towards Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Bengal and other states have reportedly urged the Railways to increase services so that people can travel home without being forced to depend on expensive alternatives.
Festival periods traditionally put enormous pressure on India’s railway network, particularly on routes connecting major urban centres with states where large numbers of migrant workers and families live.
Why Road Travel Could Become Expensive
If railway tickets remain unavailable, many passengers may have little choice but to travel by bus or private vehicle.
But the festive rush can bring another problem—higher fares.
Unauthorised private vehicles may charge considerably more than normal rates and can sometimes carry passengers beyond their recommended capacity.
That creates both financial and safety concerns for travellers.
Passengers are therefore being advised to rely on authorised transport services and avoid overcrowded or unauthorised vehicles simply because railway tickets are unavailable.
The Bigger Challenge for Indian Railways
The Raksha Bandhan rush once again highlights the enormous demand for long-distance rail travel in India during major festivals.
For passengers from the Delhi-NCR region, particularly those travelling towards eastern Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Bengal, railway services become an important connection to their hometowns.
With several trains already showing heavy demand, the introduction of additional special festival trains could provide some relief if passenger demand continues to rise.
For now, travellers planning to go home should check availability as early as possible and keep alternative travel arrangements ready.
The festival may be about meeting family and celebrating together—but for thousands of passengers, getting a seat on the train could become the first challenge of Raksha Bandhan 2026.
