An End to the Annual Travel Scramble
Every year, the festive period triggers a massive exodus from Mumbai, as millions of people head to their hometowns to celebrate with family. This inevitably leads to a frantic scramble for train tickets, with waitlists running into the hundreds just
minutes after bookings open. To ease this burden, Central Railway has announced 418 special services for Durga Puja, Diwali, and Chhath Puja 2026. These trains aim to provide confirmed travel options on high-demand routes, connecting Mumbai with destinations across Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and within Maharashtra. The services will operate primarily from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT), Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (LTT), and Dadar, running through October and November to cover the entire festive calendar.
Connecting to the Heartland: UP and Bihar Routes
A significant number of services are targeted towards Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, which see the highest demand, especially for Chhath Puja. Central Railway is running daily special trains between CSMT and Gorakhpur, with 64 services in total. Train 01079 will depart daily from CSMT between October 16 and November 16, 2026. Additionally, bi-weekly services have been announced from LTT to Mau and Banaras. Other key destinations in the region, including Danapur, Samastipur, and Chhapra, will also be connected with special trains originating from both LTT and CSMT, ensuring better connectivity for festival-goers. Western Railway has also pitched in, announcing services from its terminals to major UP and Bihar hubs to cater to the immense rush.
Services to South India and Within Maharashtra
Travellers heading south also have reasons to cheer. Central Railway will operate weekly AC special services between CSMT Mumbai and Chennai Beach, running from October 14 to November 18. Another weekly AC service will connect CSMT with SMVT Bengaluru between October 10 and November 21. For those travelling to Kerala, special weekly trains will run between LTT and Thiruvananthapuram North (Kochuveli) via the Konkan Railway route from October 15 to November 21. Within Maharashtra, several special trains will improve connectivity. A bi-weekly service will run between CSMT and Latur from October 13 to November 24. Weekly superfast trains are scheduled between CSMT and Nagpur, and also between CSMT and Kolhapur, to manage the intra-state festive travel demand.
How to Book and Plan Your Journey
Bookings for most of these special trains have already begun, opening progressively from late September 2026. Passengers are advised to book their tickets as soon as possible to secure confirmed berths. Tickets can be booked via all computerized Passenger Reservation System (PRS) counters and online through the IRCTC website and official mobile app. These special services run with special fares, which may be slightly higher than regular train tickets. For detailed schedules, timings at specific halts, and real-time updates on train running status, passengers should check the National Train Enquiry System (NTES) app or website before and during their journey.
