Your Guide to the New Special Train
Indian Railways has announced a new weekly special train service to cater to increased passenger demand between Mumbai and Bengaluru, particularly for the upcoming festive season. Operated by Central Railway (CR), this service will connect Chhatrapati
Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) in Mumbai with Sir M. Visvesvaraya Terminal (SMVT) in Bengaluru. The service will run under train numbers 01013 from Mumbai to Bengaluru and 01014 for the return journey. This temporary service is scheduled to make seven trips in each direction to help clear the extra rush.
Schedule and Timings
The 01013 CSMT Mumbai-SMVT Bengaluru Special is scheduled to depart from CSMT every Saturday at 12:35 AM, from October 10 to November 21. It is expected to reach SMVT Bengaluru at 11:55 PM on the same day, making the total journey time approximately 23 hours and 20 minutes. In the reverse direction, the 01014 SMVT Bengaluru-CSMT Mumbai Special will leave Bengaluru every Sunday at 4:30 AM, from October 11 to November 22. It will arrive at CSMT Mumbai at 4:05 AM the following day.
Route and Key Stoppages
This special service includes a significant number of stops to benefit travelers from various towns across Maharashtra and Karnataka. The train will halt at 24 stations during its journey. Major stops on the route include Dadar, Thane, Kalyan, Lonavala, Pune, Satara, Sangli, Miraj, Belagavi, Londa, Dharwad, SSS Hubballi, Davangere, and Tumakuru before reaching its final destination. This extensive list of halts makes it a convenient option for passengers not just traveling end-to-end but also between these intermediate cities.
Coach Composition and Travel Comfort
The Mumbai-Bengaluru special is an all-AC service, designed to offer a comfortable journey. Each train will consist of 22 coaches in total. The composition includes two AC 2-Tier coaches and a large number of 18 AC 3-Tier coaches, catering to a wider range of budgets while maintaining air-conditioned comfort. The train will also have two Luggage-cum-Guard-cum-Generator Vans. With no sleeper or general unreserved coaches, passengers can expect a fully reserved and less crowded environment compared to some regular express trains.
How It Compares to Other Services
The roughly 23.5-hour travel time of this special train is comparable to other non-premium trains on the route. For instance, the popular Udyan Express takes around 21 to 22 hours to cover the distance. The key advantage of this special service is the added capacity during a high-demand period when tickets on regular trains are often sold out weeks in advance. While not the fastest option—some superfast trains can be slightly quicker and a proposed Vande Bharat Sleeper aims to cut the time to 13-14 hours—it provides a much-needed, comfortable, and fully air-conditioned alternative.
Booking Your Tickets
Tickets for special trains like the 01013/01014 service can be booked exclusively through the IRCTC website or its official mobile app, 'IRCTC Rail Connect'. Bookings at station counters are generally not available for these special services. Passengers need an IRCTC account to make a booking. After logging in, you can search for the train by its number (01013 or 01014) or by entering the source and destination stations. It is advisable to book as early as possible, as seats on these festive special trains tend to fill up quickly once bookings open.
