Holi Special Train Shri Ganganagar-Varanasi-Shri Ganganagar
Shri Ganganagar-Varanasi-Shri Ganganagar
Train No. 04530 / 04529 Shri Ganganagar-Varanasi-Shri Ganganagar (Reserved Superfast) Festival Special Express
Train No. 04530 Shri Ganganagar-Varanasi, Departs from Shri Ganganagar 18.10 and Arrival at Varanasi 17.00
Train No. 04529 Varanasi-Shri Ganganagar, Departure from Varanasi 21.00 and Arrival at Shri Ganganagar 22.15
Train No. 04530, Ex Shri Ganganagar on Date 13-03-2025 to 20-03-2025 (Every Sun and Wed)
Train No. 04529, Ex Varanasi on Date 14-03-2025 to 21-03-2025 (Every Mon and Thur)
NOTE:- Train time-table related information of above trains can be obtained from Helpline No. 139 or Rail Madad Mobile App or website railmadad.indianrailways.gov.in
Here’s what is publicly documented about a Holi Special Express between Shri Ganganagar (Rajasthan) and Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh) — note that this is based on archived 2025 information, and there are no confirmed trains for Holi 2025 / 2026 on this route yet:
Contents
🚄 Shri Ganganagar – Varanasi – Shri Ganganagar Holi Special (2025)
| Train No. | Direction | Route | Days (Mar 2025) | Departure → Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 04530 | Shri Ganganagar → Varanasi | SGNR → BSB | March 13 & 20 (Sun & Wed) | Dep ~18:10 → Arr ~17:00 (next day) |
| 04529 | Varanasi → Shri Ganganagar | BSB → SGNR | March 14 & 21 (Mon & Thu) | Dep ~21:00 → Arr ~22:15 (next day) |
This was a reserved superfast festival special, featuring AC, Sleeper, and general compartments. It was operated by North Western Railway Zone in the Holi period of 2025
ℹ️ Important Notes & Travel Guidance
- These special trains are assigned the lowest operational priority on crowded tracks, and are often heavily delayed. As one Reddit user put it:
“Festival special train hamesha late hi chalti hai… my train was 8 hours late”
“TT once told me special train starts with 0 and it has least priority over any other train” - Most special trains run for one or two one-way trips, and are not confirmed or published in advance beyond late January/February by Indian Railways. Sometimes they are extended as “special fare” trains based on demand
🧭 Looking Ahead to Holi 2026
As of now, there are no confirmed Holi special trains between Shri Ganganagar and Varanasi for 2025 or 2026.
If services similar to 04530/04529 are announced, they will likely follow comparable pattern:
- Operate mid‑March around Holi dates (e.g. 13–21 March),
- Depart SGNR in the evening (~18:00 hrs), reach Varanasi next day late afternoon,
- Return train leaves Varanasi in the late evening (~21:00 hrs), arriving SGNR next day late evening.
To stay updated:
- Monitor the North Western Railway or East Central / North Eastern Railway official notices in January–February 2026,
- Or check via Rail Madad (139) or IRCTC for live announcements.
✅ Summary
- Only documented Holi special on this route is Train Nos. 04530/04529 from 2025.
- No 2025 services were confirmed or mentioned in official sources.
- Such special trains are typically unreliable time-wise and offered with limited frequency.
🛤️ Want to Plan Today?
If you’re actually planning travel between Shri Ganganagar and Varanasi (for Holi or otherwise), I can help with:
- Checking regular weekly express services (e.g. via Delhi or Lucknow),
- Exploring alternate journey options,
- Estimating fares and seat availability on standard trains,
- Keeping you posted if 2026 Holi Specials get announced.
Just let me know how to assist you further!