Holi Special Train Shalimar-Gorakhpur-Shalimar
Holi Special Train Shalimar-Gorakhpur-Shalimar
Shalimar-Gorakhpur-Shalimar
Keeping in view the extra rush of the passengers during Holi Festival, South Eastern Railway has decided to run the following Holi Special trains
Shalimar-Gorakhpur-Shalimar Special leaving Shalimar on 16.03.2025 and leaving Gorakhpur on 20.03.2025
Train No. 02883 / Train No. 02884 Shalimar-Gorakhpur-Shalimar Holi Special
Train No. 02883 Shalimar-Gorakhpur Special will leave Shalimar at 20.20 hrs and will reach Gorakhpur at 17.20 hrs the next day. In the opposite direction, Train No. 02884 Gorakhpur-Shalimar Special leaving Gorakhpur at 13.40 hrs will arrive Shalimar at 09.30 hrs, the next day.
The Special trains will have stoppages at Santragachi, Kharagpur, Tatanagar, Purulia and Bhojudih stations in SER jurisdiction.
It seems that in March 2025, no Holi Special train was operated between Shalimar and Gorakhpur (round‑trip). This route was not included in any Eastern or South Eastern Railway Holi special announcements for that year.
Contents
ℹ️ 2022 Example – Historical Context
- In March 2022, Train Nos. 02883/02884 ran as a Shalimar → Gorakhpur → Shalimar Holi Special:
- 02883 (Shalimar→Gorakhpur): Departed Shalimar around 20:20, arriving Gorakhpur the next evening (~17:20).
- 02884 (Gorakhpur→Shalimar): Departed Gorakhpur at 13:40, arriving Shalimar around 09:30 the following day.
Stops included Santragachi, Kharagpur, Tatanagar, Purulia, and Bhojudih.
That service did not recur in 2025.
⚠️ Caution With Holi Special Trains
- Holi specials numbered with leading zero (“0…”) have lowest operational priority in the network, often resulting in significant delays—sometimes 6 to 14+ hours.
- These are typically announced late, run infrequently, and often in only one direction.
✅ Summary Table
| Year | Route | Train Nos. | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Shalimar ↔ Gorakhpur | 02883 / 02884 | Operated one round-trip |
| 2025 | Shalimar ↔ Gorakhpur | — | No Holi special was operated |
🧭 Planning for Future Travel
If you’re considering traveling between Shalimar (Kolkata) and Gorakhpur around Holi 2026:
- Keep an eye on South Eastern Railway or Eastern Railway bulletins in Jan–Feb 2026 for possible Holi special updates.
- For reliable travel, consider booking regular express trains, such as the Shalimar–Gorakhpur Express (Train Nos. 15021/15022), which runs weekly with AC, sleeper, and general coaches.
- Early booking (especially in sleeper/AC classes) is recommended—special trains and Tatkal quotas usually fill within minutes.
Would you like help with:
- Checking regular train schedules, availability, or fares for Shalimar–Gorakhpur?
- Exploring alternate routes or planning multi-leg journeys via other hubs?
- Receiving alerts if Holi specials are announced for 2026?
I’m happy to help plan a smoother journey!