Connecting to Uttar Pradesh and Bihar
To cater to the high demand for travel to Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, Central and Western Railways have announced several key services. Central Railway is running 64 daily special services between CSMT Mumbai and Gorakhpur. Train 01079 will depart CSMT at 10:30
pm daily from October 16 to November 16, 2026. In the return direction, train 01080 will leave Gorakhpur at 2:30 pm daily between October 18 and November 18. Additionally, bi-weekly services are available from LTT to Mau (01123/01124) and LTT to Banaras (01051/01052). Western Railway is also operating weekly and bi-weekly specials from Bandra Terminus and Mumbai Central to destinations like Danapur, Gorakhpur, Mau, Subedarganj, and Bhagalpur. These trains are crucial for the lakhs of people who travel to North India for festivals like Diwali and Chhath Puja.
Southbound Services to Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka
For those travelling south, new weekly AC special services will connect Mumbai with major hubs. A weekly AC train (01015/01016) will run between CSMT and Chennai Beach on Wednesdays from October 14 to November 18. For passengers heading to Karnataka, a weekly AC special (01013/01014) will operate between CSMT and SMVT Bengaluru on Saturdays from October 10 to November 21. To manage the rush towards Kerala, a weekly special (01463/01464) will run from LTT to Thiruvananthapuram North every Thursday from October 15 to November 19, passing through the scenic Konkan route. This service will be a significant relief for the Malayali community and tourists alike.
Enhanced Connectivity within Maharashtra
Intra-state travel within Maharashtra has also received a boost. A total of 12 weekly superfast special services (02139/02140) will run between CSMT and Nagpur on Saturdays from October 17. This will improve connectivity to the Vidarbha region. Central Railway will also operate 12 weekly special services between CSMT and Kolhapur every Thursday from October 15. For the Marathwada region, 26 bi-weekly services (01105/01106) will connect CSMT with Latur, running on Tuesdays and Thursdays from October 13 to November 24. These trains provide vital links for people travelling to their hometowns within the state.
Holiday Trains to Goa and the Konkan Coast
The popular holiday destination of Goa and the picturesque Konkan coast are now more accessible. Central Railway will operate 14 weekly special services between LTT and Madgaon, a key station for accessing Goa. The LTT to Thiruvananthapuram special will also provide halts at major Konkan stations, including Ratnagiri, Kankavali, and Madgaon, further increasing options for travellers. One service, Train No. 01179 from LTT to Madgaon, will run every Friday with different timetables for the monsoon period (until October 16) and the post-monsoon period (October 23 to November 20). These trains are essential for handling the tourist and festive rush along the west coast.
Booking and Travel Information
Bookings for most of these festive special trains opened on September 27 and 28, 2026. Tickets are available through the IRCTC official website (irctc.co.in), all computerised railway reservation centres, and the RailOne mobile application. As these services operate with special charges and demand is exceptionally high, passengers are strongly advised to book their tickets well in advance to avoid any last-minute issues. Travellers should also check for real-time updates and detailed halt timings on the NTES portal or the official Indian Railways website before their journey.
