A Timely Addition for the Festive Season
To manage the anticipated surge in travel demand during the Durga Puja, Diwali, and Chhath festivals, Central Railway has introduced a special weekly train service. This train, numbered 01013/01014, will connect Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT)
in Mumbai with Sir M. Visvesvaraya Terminal (SMVT) in Bengaluru. This move is part of a broader announcement of 418 special services from Mumbai to various destinations to handle the festive traffic. The new Mumbai-Bengaluru link is specifically designed to provide a reliable travel option for the thousands who journey between these two major economic hubs during the holiday period. According to railway officials, the service will make seven trips in each direction.
Schedule and Route Details
The service is scheduled to run for a limited period to cater to the festive rush. Train number 01013 will depart from CSMT Mumbai at 12:35 AM every Saturday, from October 10 to November 21, 2026. It is scheduled to arrive at SMVT Bengaluru at 11:55 PM on the same day, completing the journey in just under 24 hours. In the return direction, train number 01014 will leave SMVT Bengaluru at 4:30 AM every Sunday, from October 11 to November 22, 2026, reaching CSMT Mumbai at 4:05 AM the following day. The train will have 24 designated stops along its route, ensuring connectivity for passengers across Maharashtra and Karnataka. Key halts include Dadar, Thane, Kalyan, Pune, Satara, Sangli, Miraj, Belagavi, Londa, Dharwad, and SSS Hubballi, before reaching Bengaluru.
Coach Composition and Passenger Comfort
The special service is an all-AC train, designed for comfortable long-distance travel. Each rake will consist of 22 coaches in total. This includes two AC 2-Tier coaches and a significant number of 18 AC 3-Tier coaches, which cater to the majority of passengers on this route. The train will also have two Luggage-cum-Guard-cum-Generator Vans. This fully air-conditioned configuration aims to provide a more comfortable journey compared to non-AC options, especially given the nearly day-long travel time. The focus on AC coaches reflects a growing trend in Indian Railways to enhance passenger comfort on premium and long-distance routes.
How the Time Compares to Other Options
The advertised journey time of 23 hours and 30 minutes is comparable to some existing services but not the fastest rail option available. For instance, the popular Udyan Express (11301) takes around 22 to 24 hours. Other trains on the route can take anywhere from 18.5 hours to over 25 hours, depending on their route and number of stops. This special train, with its numerous halts, is positioned more as an essential service to increase capacity rather than a high-speed alternative. Looking ahead, travelers can anticipate even faster journeys. A proposed Vande Bharat Sleeper service between the two cities has been approved and is expected to slash travel time to between 15 and 17 hours, although a launch date has not been finalized.
