Bengaluru Gets Special Trains for Navratri and Diwali
Indian Railways has announced special trains connecting Bengaluru with Mumbai and Visakhapatnam during Navratri and Diwali to manage increased festival travel demand.
Festival travel is set to increase across the country as Navratri and Diwali approach, and passengers travelling from Bengaluru will have additional railway options this year.
To manage the expected rush, Indian Railways has announced special services between Bengaluru and Mumbai as well as Bengaluru and Visakhapatnam. The services will operate during October and November, covering important travel dates around the festive period.
The additional trains are expected to provide some relief to passengers who may otherwise face limited availability on regular services. Bengaluru is a major travel hub, and demand for trains usually rises considerably when people head to their hometowns and holiday destinations during consecutive festivals.
Bengaluru Mumbai special trains
The Mumbai Bengaluru service will operate in both directions with seven trips on each route.
Train number 01013, the CSMT Mumbai to SMVT Bengaluru special train, will operate from October 10 to November 21. It will leave CSMT Mumbai at 12.35 am every Saturday and reach SMVT Bengaluru at 11.55 pm on the same day.
The return service, train number 01014, will run from October 11 to November 22. It will depart from SMVT Bengaluru at 4.30 am every Sunday and reach CSMT Mumbai at 4.05 am the following day.
The special service will stop at several stations along the route, giving passengers from different parts of Karnataka and Maharashtra access to the festival trains.
Major stops will include Dadar, Thane, Kalyan, Lonavala, Pune, Lonand, Satara, Karad, Sangli, Miraj, Kudachi, Raybag, Ghataprabha, Belagavi and Londa.
Within Karnataka, the train will also stop at Dharwad, SSS Hubballi, Haveri, Ranebennur, Harihar, Davanagere, Birur, Arsikere and Tumakuru.
The Mumbai Bengaluru special train will have 22 coaches. The composition will include two AC two tier coaches, 18 AC three tier coaches and two luggage cum guard cum generator coaches.
Bengaluru Visakhapatnam special trains
Passengers travelling towards Andhra Pradesh and neighbouring regions will also get additional services during the festive period.
Train number 08583 will operate from Visakhapatnam to SMVT Bengaluru every Tuesday from October 6 to November 24. The train will leave Visakhapatnam at 7 pm and reach SMVT Bengaluru at 12.45 pm the following day.
The return service, train number 08584, will run from SMVT Bengaluru to Visakhapatnam every Wednesday from October 7 to November 25. It will leave Bengaluru at 3.50 pm and arrive in Visakhapatnam at 1.30 pm the next day.
The Visakhapatnam Bengaluru service will pass through several important stations. These include Duvvada, Anakapalle, Samalkot, Rajahmundry, Eluru, Vijayawada, Ongole, Nellore, Gudur, Renigunta, Katpadi, Jolarpet, Bangarapet and KR Puram.
The route gives passengers from Bengaluru and other connected areas another option for travelling towards Andhra Pradesh during the festival season.
Additional services aimed at festival rush
The decision to operate these special trains comes at a time when railway demand is expected to remain high. Navratri and Diwali bring large scale movement of passengers, with families travelling to their native places and people planning holiday trips.
Advance planning can be particularly important during this period because regular trains on popular routes can fill quickly. The additional services provide more travel choices for passengers who are unable to find suitable seats on regular trains.
For Bengaluru passengers, the Mumbai service is particularly useful for those travelling towards Maharashtra as well as several cities and towns in northern Karnataka. The Visakhapatnam service, meanwhile, provides a direct additional option for passengers heading towards Andhra Pradesh.
The railway timetable also gives passengers different departure times depending on their destination. Travellers should check the latest schedule and reservation availability before making their plans, as railway timings and coach arrangements can change.
With the festive season approaching, the special services are expected to support passenger movement on two important long distance routes from Bengaluru. The additional trips could also reduce some pressure on regular trains during the busiest travel weeks.
For people planning journeys around Navratri and Diwali, these trains offer additional choices between Bengaluru, Mumbai and Visakhapatnam. Passengers can use the extra services according to their travel dates and preferred route.
