Indian Railways News: With the Ganpati festival approaching, demand for rail travel has begun to surge, with more than 1.17 lakh passengers already booking seats on special trains. Central Railway has planned
262 special train trips this year to handle the expected festive rush and provide additional travel options.
The special services will connect Mumbai, Pune and Nagpur with destinations across the Konkan region of Maharashtra and Goa. The services are scheduled to begin on September 9, with both reserved and unreserved trains planned for the festival period.
262 Special Train Trips Planned
According to a report in The Indian Express, Central Railway has announced 200 reserved and 62 unreserved special train trips for Ganpati 2026. The reserved services will include air-conditioned trains as well as services with a mix of AC, Sleeper and General coaches.
Of the 200 reserved trips, 112 will be to and from Sawantwadi Road, 64 will operate to Ratnagiri and 24 will connect with Madgaon.
According to Central Railway Chief Public Relations Officer Dr Swapnil Nila, bookings for the special services had reached 1,17,682 passengers as of August 31.
Services To Start From September 9
The additional trains will begin operating from September 9, giving passengers more options to travel to their native places for the festival.
Railways said the advance availability of these services is intended to help passengers plan their journeys ahead of the festive rush and travel home to celebrate Ganpati with family and friends.
Railways Issues Advisory For Passengers
With large crowds expected at major stations, Central Railway has put additional arrangements in place to manage passenger movement.
Passengers have been advised to reach stations at least 30 minutes before their train’s scheduled departure. The Railways said arriving early would help reduce last-minute crowding and make boarding smoother.
Additional ticket counters and holding areas have also been arranged at major stations. Drinking water, food and toilet facilities will be made available at selected locations with assistance from NGOs.
RPF, Ticket Staff To Be Deployed
To manage crowds around the special trains, queue-management systems will be introduced at stations. Additional Railway Protection Force personnel and ticket-checking staff will also be deployed at important locations.
Passengers have been urged to carry valid tickets and identification documents while travelling to avoid inconvenience during the journey.
How To Check Train Details
Passengers looking for the timings, routes and halts of Ganpati special trains can check the Indian Railways Enquiry website or the NTES app.
Unreserved tickets can be booked through the UTS system, while passengers can also use the RailOne app for ticket bookings, according to Central Railway.
With the first special services due to begin on September 9 and bookings already crossing 1.17 lakh, the scale of advance demand signals a busy travel period ahead of Ganpati celebrations.
