Central Railway's Festive Fleet
Central Railway (CR) has taken the lead by announcing a massive 418 special train services to manage the passenger surge during October and November 2026. These trains will connect major Mumbai terminals like Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT)
and Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (LTT) with numerous cities. The goal is to provide smooth and convenient travel for the millions heading home for Puja, Diwali, and Chhath celebrations. According to officials, these services are designed to connect Mumbai with destinations in states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka.
Key Routes to North India
For travelers heading to Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, several key services have been introduced. Central Railway will operate 64 daily special services between CSMT and Gorakhpur. Train 01079 will depart CSMT at 10:30 pm daily from October 16 to November 16. In addition, bi-weekly services have been announced between LTT and Mau, as well as LTT and Banaras. Western Railway is also contributing by running special services from Mumbai Central and Bandra Terminus to destinations like Danapur, Gorakhpur, and Subedarganj to cater to the heavy traffic towards North and East India.
Connecting South and West India
Travelers to the south have new options as well. Central Railway will run weekly AC special services between CSMT and Chennai Beach on Wednesdays from October 14 to November 18. Another weekly AC special will connect CSMT with SMVT Bengaluru on Saturdays from October 10 to November 21. Within Maharashtra, connectivity is also being boosted. A bi-weekly special between CSMT and Latur will run 26 trips between October 13 and November 24. Furthermore, weekly special trains will run between CSMT and Nagpur, and CSMT and Kolhapur, offering more choices for intra-state travel.
How and When to Book Your Tickets
Booking for these special festive trains began on a staggered basis from September 27 and September 28, 2026. Passengers are advised to book their tickets as early as possible due to the high demand. Tickets can be booked through all computerized Passenger Reservation System (PRS) counters and online via the IRCTC website or the RailOne mobile app. It is important to note that these special trains will operate with special fares. For unreserved coaches, tickets can also be booked using the UTS mobile system.
