A Raft of New Services Announced
To manage the surge in passenger demand for Durga Puja, Diwali, and Chhath Puja, Central Railway has announced it will run 418 special train services. These trains will connect major Mumbai terminals like Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) and Lokmanya
Tilak Terminus (LTT) with numerous destinations across the country, running from October through November 2026. This initiative aims to provide confirmed travel options for the millions heading home for the holidays, significantly increasing capacity on the busiest routes. These are 'Train on Demand' services, which means they are scheduled specifically to clear the anticipated extra rush.
Connecting to North India
The highest demand is often for trains heading to Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. To cater to this, Central Railway is running daily special trains between CSMT Mumbai and Gorakhpur, with a total of 64 services scheduled. Train 01079 will depart CSMT daily between October 16 and November 16, 2026. Additionally, there will be 24 bi-weekly special services from LTT to both Mau and Banaras, providing more options for passengers travelling to eastern Uttar Pradesh. Northern Railway has also introduced services from Varanasi and Sultanpur to LTT, passing through major hubs like Lucknow and Kanpur. These trains are crucial for connecting families during the Chhath Puja festival.
Services Within Maharashtra and to the South
Travel within Maharashtra also sees a significant spike during festivals. Central Railway has announced several services, including a weekly superfast special (02139/02140) between CSMT and Nagpur, making 12 trips. A bi-weekly special between CSMT and Latur (01105/01106) will run 26 services from October 13 to November 24. There will also be weekly specials connecting CSMT with Kolhapur. For those travelling south, new weekly AC special trains have been announced between CSMT and Chennai Beach (01015/01016) and between CSMT and SMVT Bengaluru (01013/01014). These services will run from mid-October to late November 2026.
How to Book Your Tickets
Bookings for these special trains have already begun, opening in phases from September 27 and 28 onwards. Tickets can be booked through all computerized reservation centres and online via the IRCTC website or the RailOne mobile application. It is important to note that these special trains operate with special fares, which may be higher than regular services. Given the immense demand, railway authorities strongly advise passengers to book their tickets as early as possible to secure a confirmed seat. Keep your passenger details ready in a master list on the IRCTC platform to speed up the booking process, as tickets on popular routes can sell out within minutes.
