A Timely Solution for Festive Travel
The corridor between Mumbai, India's financial capital, and Bengaluru, its primary IT hub, sees immense passenger traffic year-round. This demand typically surges during the festive months of October and November, which include major holidays like Durga
Puja, Diwali, and Chhath Puja. Recognizing this, Central Railway and South Western Railway have jointly announced a special weekly service to provide much-needed additional capacity. The introduction of this train aims to offer a more comfortable and confirmed travel option for thousands of passengers who travel for work, leisure, and to be with their families during the celebrations. The service is slated to run for seven trips in each direction, specifically covering the peak festive period.
Key Train Details You Need to Know
The new service will operate under two numbers for its journey between Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) and Bengaluru’s Sir M. Visvesvaraya Terminal (SMVT). For the journey from Mumbai to Bengaluru, the train number is 01013. For the return trip from Bengaluru to Mumbai, passengers will book under train number 01014. This is a weekly service, operating on specific days from early October through late November to cater exclusively to the festive demand. Passengers should take careful note of these numbers and the terminals when making their travel plans.
Complete Schedule and Timings
Precision is key when planning train journeys, and the schedule for this special service has been clearly laid out. Train No. 01013 CSMT Mumbai-SMVT Bengaluru Special will depart from CSMT every Saturday at 12:35 AM, starting from October 10 and running until November 21. It is scheduled to arrive at SMVT Bengaluru at 11:55 PM on the same day. In the return direction, Train No. 01014 SMVT Bengaluru-CSMT Mumbai Special will depart from Bengaluru every Sunday at 4:30 AM, from October 11 to November 22. It will reach CSMT Mumbai at 4:05 AM the following day, completing the journey in approximately 23 hours and 30 minutes.
Route and Important Halts
The train is not just for passengers travelling end-to-end; its route includes 24 designated halts, connecting numerous important towns and cities across Maharashtra and Karnataka. Key stops along the journey include Dadar, Thane, Kalyan, Lonavala, and Pune in the initial leg. Further along, the train will halt at major junctions such as Satara, Sangli, Miraj, Belagavi, Dharwad, SSS Hubballi, and Davangere before proceeding towards Tumakuru and its final destination in Bengaluru. This extensive list of stops ensures that the service benefits a wide range of passengers across both states.
Coach Composition and Travel Class
The new special train is designed as a fully air-conditioned service, focusing on passenger comfort over the long journey. It will consist of a total of 22 coaches. The composition includes two AC 2-Tier coaches and a significant number of 18 AC 3-Tier coaches, catering to the most popular AC travel segments. Additionally, there will be two Luggage-cum-Guard-cum-Generator Vans. The absence of non-AC sleeper or general compartments indicates a focus on providing a premium and comfortable travel experience for passengers undertaking the nearly 24-hour journey.
How to Book Your Tickets
Bookings for this special service are expected to open shortly across all designated booking channels. Passengers can book their tickets through the official IRCTC website, the 'IRCTC Rail Connect' mobile app, or at computerised reservation centres and passenger reservation counters across the country. Given that this is a festive special service announced to clear extra rush, demand is expected to be extremely high. Prospective travellers are advised to monitor the opening of bookings closely and plan their travel in advance to secure confirmed berths. It is always recommended to book through official channels to avoid any complications.
