Central Railway to Run 246 Ganpati Special Trains From Mumbai and Pune
Central Railway announced 246 Ganpati Special Trains on July 27, 2026, to manage the heavy festive travel rush between Mumbai, Pune, and key Konkan destinations during Ganesh Chaturthi. The special arrangement includes 184 reserved trains equipped with AC, sleeper, and general coaches, along with 62 unreserved MEMU train services.
The festive services will primarily operate out of major city stations, including Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus and Lokmanya Tilak Terminus. Central Railway confirmed that 98 services will originate from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, while 76 services will run from Lokmanya Tilak Terminus. In addition, 10 services will operate from Pune, and 62 unreserved MEMU services will run out of Diva to accommodate thousands of festival devotees.
Most of these special services will operate between September 11 and September 27, covering the main travel period for Ganesh Chaturthi. The trains will connect travellers to major Konkan destinations such as Sawantwadi Road, Ratnagiri, Madgaon, Khed, and Chiplun. Central Railway introduced a mix of AC, sleeper, and unreserved coaches, alongside dedicated AC-only services on select routes. Pune will also receive both AC and regular weekly special trains running to Ratnagiri.
To assist short-distance passengers, Central Railway scheduled 62 unreserved MEMU specials specifically operating along the Diva-Khed and Diva-Chiplun routes. Railway officials noted that these additional short-distance trains aim to improve connectivity across the Konkan region while providing affordable options to reduce crowd pressure on scheduled regular services.
Reservations for the reserved special trains will open in phases starting August 1. Booking for train numbers 01153, 01445, 01167, and 01447 begins on August 1. Bookings for trains 01165 and 01185 will start on August 2, while tickets for train numbers 01103, 01129, 01151, 01171, and 01131 will open on August 3.
Tickets can be booked through all physical Passenger Reservation System counters as well as the IRCTC web portal. Unreserved tickets will be available through the UTS system. Travellers can also track train schedules and real-time running status using the RailOne app and the NTES platform. Central Railway advised passengers to book early due to heavy demand during the festival period.
