A Welcome Relief for a Crowded Corridor
The route between India's financial capital, Mumbai, and its IT hub, Bengaluru, is one of the busiest in the country. Throughout the year, securing a confirmed ticket can be a challenge, and this demand skyrockets during festival seasons like Durga Puja,
Diwali, and Chhath Puja. To address this predictable surge, Central Railway and South Western Railway have collaborated to introduce special weekly train services, offering a temporary but significant increase in available berths for passengers. This move is a standard practice by the railways to manage festive demand and ensure more people can travel home or on holiday.
What Do the Special Services Include?
The primary capacity increase comes from a new weekly special AC train service. According to railway authorities, these trains will make seven trips in each direction between mid-October and late November 2026. Each train will consist of 22 coaches, comprising two AC 2-Tier and eighteen AC 3-Tier coaches, along with two generator vans. This composition highlights a focus on providing comfortable, air-conditioned travel options to passengers undertaking the long journey, which takes approximately 23 hours and 30 minutes.
Key Dates and Train Information
Travellers should take careful note of the specific train numbers and schedules. Train number 01013 will depart from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) in Mumbai every Saturday at 12:35 AM, starting from October 10 and running until November 21, 2026. It is scheduled to arrive at Sir M. Visvesvaraya Terminal (SMVT) in Bengaluru at 11:55 PM on the same day. In the return direction, train number 01014 will leave SMVT Bengaluru every Sunday at 4:30 AM, from October 11 to November 22, 2026, reaching CSMT Mumbai at 4:05 AM the following day.
Route and Important Stoppages
To serve passengers from several key towns across Maharashtra and Karnataka, the special trains will have 24 designated halts. Major stations along the route include Dadar, Thane, Kalyan, Lonavala, Pune, Satara, Karad, Sangli, Miraj, Belagavi, Londa, Dharwad, and SSS Hubballi. Other important stops are Davangere, Arsikere, and Tumakuru, ensuring wide connectivity for people living in the regions between the two metropolises.
How to Book Your Tickets
Bookings for these special festival trains opened on September 27 and 28, 2026. Tickets can be purchased through all computerised reservation centres and online via the official IRCTC website and mobile app. Given the high demand that prompted these services in the first place, passengers are advised to book their tickets as early as possible. The introduction of these trains is a temporary measure, and seats are expected to fill up quickly as travel dates approach.
Looking Beyond Temporary Fixes
While these festival specials provide immediate relief, they also underscore the long-term need for greater capacity on this vital economic corridor. Indian Railways has broader plans to double the train handling capacity in 48 major cities, including Mumbai and Bengaluru, by 2030 to address systemic congestion. This long-term strategy involves augmenting existing terminals, building new ones, and increasing sectional capacity. For now, however, the 14 special AC services are a welcome intervention for thousands of festive travellers.
