Central Railway has announced 418 special train services for the 2026 festive season covering Durga Puja, Diwali and Chhath. The services will connect Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur and other cities with destinations across several states, giving passengers additional options during the annual festive travel rush.
418 Special Trains Announced for Festive Travel
The announcement of 418 special trains comes ahead of one of the busiest travel periods on the Indian railway network. Central Railway is adding services to handle increased passenger demand during Durga Puja, Diwali and Chhath.
The additional trains will operate from multiple originating stations, including Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, Lokmanya Tilak Terminus, Pune, Hadapsar and Nagpur. Their routes cover destinations in Maharashtra as well as Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and other parts of the country.
For passengers in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, the announcement is significant because several of the services either originate from or stop at cities outside Mumbai. This gives people travelling home for the festive season more options beyond regular scheduled trains.
Nagpur and Other Tier-2 Cities Get Additional Options
Nagpur features among the cities included in the Central Railway festive plan. The railway has announced 12 weekly superfast special services between Mumbai and Nagpur.
Train 02139 will operate from CSMT to Nagpur every Saturday from October 17 to November 21, while train 02140 will run from Nagpur to Mumbai every Sunday from October 18 to November 22.
The route includes important stations such as Nashik Road, Manmad, Jalgaon, Bhusawal, Akola, Murtizapur, Badnera, Dhamangaon and Wardha. This makes the service relevant not only to Nagpur passengers but also to travellers from several cities and towns along the route.
For passengers in Vidarbha and neighbouring regions, the additional services could provide another option during a period when regular trains often face heavy demand.
Pune, Hadapsar and Amravati Also Included
The festive timetable is not limited to Mumbai and Nagpur. Central Railway has also announced additional services involving Pune and Hadapsar.
Among the announced services is a Pune-New Amravati-Pune weekly AC special with 12 services. There are also special services between Hadapsar and Ghazipur City and between Nagpur and Hadapsar.
These connections are particularly relevant for passengers travelling between Maharashtra’s major urban centres and smaller cities.
The inclusion of stations such as Amravati, Latur and Nagpur also reflects the importance of Tier-2 cities in India’s festive migration pattern. Many residents of these cities work or study in Mumbai, Pune and other urban centres and travel back to their hometowns during Diwali and other major festivals.
Mumbai-Nagpur, Mumbai-Latur Routes See Extra Services
Passengers travelling between Mumbai and Latur will receive 26 bi-weekly special services between CSMT and Latur. Train 01105 will leave CSMT every Tuesday and Thursday from October 13 to November 24, while the return service will leave Latur on the same days.
The railway has also announced 12 weekly superfast special services between Mumbai and Nagpur.
For passengers, the important point is that these trains are temporary festive services. Their operating dates and frequencies are different from regular trains, so travellers should check the specific train number and date before making travel plans.
Uttar Pradesh and Bihar Routes Get Major Capacity Addition
The festive travel rush is particularly significant on routes connecting Maharashtra with Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, where large numbers of migrant workers, students and families travel home during Diwali and Chhath.
Central Railway will operate 64 daily special services between CSMT and Gorakhpur during the festive period. Another 64 daily special services will operate between Hadapsar and Gorakhpur.
There will also be 24 bi-weekly services between LTT and Mau and 24 bi-weekly services between LTT and Banaras.
These routes pass through several Tier-2 and Tier-3 locations, including Bhusawal, Khandwa, Itarsi, Bina, Jhansi, Kanpur, Lucknow, Gonda and Basti. The additional services could therefore benefit passengers who do not live in major metropolitan cities but depend on railway connections to reach their hometowns.
Mumbai-Bengaluru Special Train Covers Maharashtra’s Smaller Cities
Central Railway will also operate a Mumbai-Bengaluru special train during the festive period.
Train 01013 will run from CSMT to SMVT Bengaluru every Saturday from October 10 to November 21. The return service, train 01014, will operate every Sunday from October 11 to November 22.
The train will stop at several cities across Maharashtra and Karnataka, including Pune, Satara, Karad, Sangli, Miraj, Belagavi, Dharwad, Hubballi, Davangere and Tumakuru.
The service is expected to provide an additional option for people travelling between western and southern India during the festive period.
When Will Booking Start?
Booking dates vary according to the individual special train.
According to the Central Railway announcement reported by Indian Express, bookings for several services opened on September 27, while bookings for other services are scheduled to open on September 28. Passengers can book reserved tickets through the railway reservation system and IRCTC. Unreserved passengers can use the UTS system, while the RailOne app is also available for ticketing.
Since September 28 is the current date, passengers planning October or November travel should check the availability of their particular train rather than assuming that all 418 services opened for booking at the same time.
What Tier-2 City Passengers Should Check
The announcement gives travellers more options, but passengers still need to check the details carefully before booking.
Special trains can have different schedules, stoppages, coach compositions and operating days compared with regular services. A train that runs on one Saturday may not operate on another date.
Passengers should therefore verify the train number, boarding station, destination, departure time, arrival time and date of operation before purchasing a ticket.
This is especially important for travellers from smaller cities because a special train may operate only on selected days. Missing the operating date could leave passengers dependent on already crowded regular services.
Festival Travel Will Remain a Planning Exercise
The 418 special trains are designed to add capacity during a period of unusually high passenger demand. However, additional services do not eliminate the need for advance planning.
Passengers travelling from Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities should check connections from their hometown to the nearest originating or stopping station. They should also consider the time needed to reach railway stations, particularly when travelling with children, elderly family members or large amounts of luggage.
For passengers in cities such as Nagpur, Amravati, Akola, Latur, Pune and other regional centres, the new services provide additional choices, but availability will still depend on individual routes and travel dates.
Key Takeaways
- Central Railway has announced 418 special train services for the Durga Puja, Diwali and Chhath travel season.
- Nagpur, Pune, Hadapsar, Amravati and Latur are among the Tier-2 cities connected through the additional services.
- Several trains connecting Maharashtra with Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala will operate during the festive period.
- Booking dates vary by train, with several services opening for reservations on September 27 and September 28.
FAQ
How many special trains has Central Railway announced for Diwali 2026?
Central Railway has announced 418 special train services for the Durga Puja, Diwali and Chhath festive travel period.
Will Nagpur have special trains for Diwali?
Yes. Central Railway has announced 12 weekly superfast special services between Mumbai and Nagpur, operating between October 17 and November 22 in the respective directions.
When can passengers book the special trains?
Booking dates differ between services. Several trains opened for booking on September 27, while bookings for other services are scheduled to open on September 28, 2026. Passengers should check the specific train before booking.
Can passengers book these trains through IRCTC?
Yes. Reserved tickets can be booked through IRCTC and railway reservation centres. Unreserved passengers can use the UTS system, while the RailOne app is also available for ticketing
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