New Festival Special Trains Announced
To accommodate the surge in passenger demand during the festive season of Durga Puja, Diwali, and Chhath in 2026, Central Railway has announced 418 special train services. Among these is a new weekly AC special service connecting Mumbai's Chhatrapati
Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) with SMVT Bengaluru. Crucially for Pune residents, this train will make a scheduled stop in the city, providing a timely and much-needed travel option. The service, designated as train number 01013/01014, will run on weekends from October to November 2026. Bookings for this special service opened on September 27, 2026, via reservation centres and the IRCTC website.
Schedule and Key Halts
The Mumbai-Bengaluru special service (01013) is scheduled to depart from CSMT Mumbai at 12:35 AM on Saturdays and arrive in Bengaluru at 11:55 PM the same day. The return train (01014) will leave Bengaluru at 4:30 AM on Sundays, reaching Mumbai at 4:05 AM the next day. With a journey time of approximately 23 hours and 30 minutes, the train will make 24 stops. For Pune travellers, the key is the train's halt in their city, along with other major stops like Lonavala, Satara, Karad, Sangli, Miraj, Belagavi, and Hubballi, connecting numerous important towns across Maharashtra and Karnataka.
The Promise of the Vande Bharat Sleeper
Beyond the temporary festival specials, a more permanent and significant upgrade is on the horizon. Indian Railways has approved a Vande Bharat sleeper train service between Mumbai and Bengaluru, which will also pass through Pune. This upcoming service is expected to be a game-changer, drastically reducing travel time. While most current trains take 18 to 22 hours for the Pune-Bengaluru leg, the Vande Bharat sleeper aims to complete the journey in about 13 to 15 hours. This overnight service is designed for comfort and efficiency, allowing passengers to travel between the two IT hubs without losing a working day.
Enhanced Comfort and Capacity
The proposed Vande Bharat sleeper is set to feature modern amenities and a higher capacity of 823 passengers per train. The rake composition will include 11 AC three-tier coaches, four AC two-tier coaches, and one AC first-class coach. Equipped with the indigenous 'Kavach' anti-collision safety system, these trains represent a major leap in passenger safety and comfort. This move addresses long-standing demands for faster, more comfortable, and safer overnight travel options on one of India’s busiest and most economically vital corridors, directly benefiting professionals and students who frequently travel between Pune and Bengaluru.
What This Means for Pune
The strategic inclusion of Pune as a major stop on both the new special trains and the upcoming Vande Bharat sleeper route reinforces the city's importance as a commercial and educational hub. These added services provide immediate relief by increasing the number of available berths and offering more travel choices during peak seasons. The bi-weekly express launched earlier in the year was the first step, and these new announcements continue the trend of strengthening cross-regional links. For thousands of professionals in the IT and manufacturing sectors, students, and families, this enhanced connectivity translates into tangible benefits: saved time, greater convenience, and a more comfortable journey between two of India's most dynamic cities.
