Central Railway 418 Special Trains 2026: Complete Route Guide for Durga Puja, Diwali & Chhath Festival Travel

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Written by: Travel & Railway Guide | Updated: September 26, 2026

Central Railway 418 Special Trains: Your Complete Festival Travel Guide

As the festive season approaches with Durga Puja, Diwali, and Chhath celebrations around the corner, the Central Railway has made an exciting announcement! The Indian Railways' Central Railway zone is all set to operate 418 special train services to manage the massive rush of festival travelers from October to November 2026.

According to Dr Swapnil Nila, Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) of Central Railway, these special trains will connect Mumbai and other major cities with numerous destinations across Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and other states. Whether you're traveling for Durga Puja celebrations in Bengal, heading home for Diwali, or planning to witness the religious fervor of Chhath Puja, Central Railway has got you covered!

📋 Quick Navigation: What's Inside This Guide

• Mumbai-Gorakhpur Special Trains: 64 Daily Services

• Mumbai-Chennai AC Special Trains: 12 Weekly Services

• Mumbai-Bengaluru AC Special Trains: 14 Weekly Services

• Mumbai-Latur Special Trains: 26 Bi-weekly Services

• Mumbai-Nagpur Superfast Special Trains

• LTT-Mau & LTT-Banaras Special Trains

• Kerala & Goa Festival Routes

• How to Book Using IRCTC & Other Methods

• Complete Train Schedules & Halt Stations

1. Mumbai-Gorakhpur Special Trains: Daily Services for Chhath Travelers

The most popular route during Chhath season! Central Railway will run daily special trains between CSMT (Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus) Mumbai and Gorakhpur with a total of 64 services covering the entire festival period.

Train Details:

🚂 Train 01079 (Mumbai to Gorakhpur):

• Departure: 10:30 PM daily from CSMT Mumbai

• Duration: October 16 to November 16, 2026

• Arrival: 10:00 AM on the third day at Gorakhpur

• Days: Daily service

🚂 Train 01080 (Return - Gorakhpur to Mumbai):

• Departure: 2:30 PM daily from Gorakhpur

• Duration: October 18 to November 18, 2026

• Arrival: 12:40 AM on the third day at CSMT Mumbai

• Days: Daily service

Major Halt Stations:

Dadar • Thane • Kalyan • Nashik Road • Manmad • Jalgaon • Bhusaval • Khandwa • Itarsi • Bhopal • Bina • Jhansi • Orai • Kanpur Central • Lucknow • Gonda • Mankapur • Basti • Khalilabad

2. Mumbai-Chennai AC Special Trains: South India Festival Getaway

Planning a festive holiday to South India? Central Railway's Mumbai-Chennai AC special trains offer comfortable AC accommodation for your Diwali travels to Tamil Nadu.

Train Schedule:

🚂 Train 01015 (CSMT Mumbai to Chennai Beach):

• Departure: 12:35 AM (Wednesday)

• Duration: October 14 to November 18, 2026

• Frequency: Weekly (Every Wednesday) 

🚂 Train 01016 (Return - Chennai Beach to CSMT):

• Departure: 4:00 AM (Thursday)

• Duration: October 15 to November 19, 2026

• Frequency: Weekly (Every Thursday)

• Total Services: 12 weekly AC special services

Route with Halt Stations:

Pune • Solapur • Kalaburagi • Raichur • Mantralayam Road • Guntakal • Kadapa • Renigunta • Arakkonam • Perambur

3. Mumbai-Bengaluru AC Special Trains: Karnataka Festival Travel

Celebrate Diwali in Bengaluru! Central Railway operates 14 weekly AC special services between Mumbai and Bengaluru, making it convenient to reach South India's tech capital during the festive season.

Train Details:

🚂 Train 01013 (CSMT Mumbai to SMVT Bengaluru):

• Days: Every Saturday

• Duration: October 10 to November 21, 2026 

🚂 Train 01014 (Return - SMVT Bengaluru to CSMT):

• Days: Every Sunday

• Duration: October 11 to November 22, 2026 • Total Weekly Services: 14 AC special train services

Route Stations:

Pune • Satara • Karad • Sangli • Miraj • Belagavi • Dharwad • Hubballi • Davangere • Tumakuru

4. Mumbai-Latur Special Trains: Local Marathi Festival Routes

For those traveling within Maharashtra to Latur, Central Railway is providing additional convenience with bi-weekly special services during the festival season.

Service Details:

🚂 Train 01105 (CSMT Mumbai to Latur):

• Departure Time: 12:35 AM

• Days: Tuesday & Thursday

• Duration: October 13 to November 24, 2026 

🚂 Train 01106 (Return - Latur to CSMT):

• Departure Time: 4:30 PM • Days: Tuesday & Thursday • Total Services: 26 bi-weekly special trains

5. Mumbai-Nagpur Superfast Special Trains: Central India Connection

Central Railway's superfast special trains between Mumbai and Nagpur provide the fastest connectivity to Central India during Diwali celebrations.

Superfast Train Schedule:

🚂 Train 02139 (CSMT Mumbai to Nagpur):

• Departure: Every Saturday

• Duration: October 17 to November 21, 2026 

🚂 Train 02140 (Return - Nagpur to CSMT):

• Departure: Every Sunday

• Duration: October 18 to November 22, 2026

• Total Weekly Services: 12 superfast special services

Important Halt Stations:

Nashik Road • Manmad • Jalgaon • Bhusaval • Akola • Murtizapur • Badnera • Dhamangaon • Wardha

6. Mumbai-Kolhapur Special Trains: Western Maharashtra Festival Route

For festival travelers heading to Kolhapur, Central Railway will operate 12 weekly special services connecting the cultural hub of Western Maharashtra.

Train Information:

🚂 Route: CSMT Mumbai to Kolhapur

• Frequency: Every Thursday

• Duration: October 15 to November 19, 2026

• Total Services: 12 weekly special trains

Route Stations:

Pune • Jejuri • Satara • Karad • Sangli • Miraj • Hatkanangle

7. LTT Special Trains to Uttar Pradesh: Banaras & Mau Festival Routes

For passengers heading to Uttar Pradesh during Diwali and Chhath celebrations, Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (LTT) offers multiple special train options to Mau and Banaras.

LTT-Mau Special Trains:

🚂 Train 01123 (LTT to Mau):

• Days: Friday & Sunday

• Total Services: 24 bi-weekly trains 

🚂 Train 01124 (Return - Mau to LTT):

• Days: Sunday & Tuesday

LTT-Banaras Superfast Special Trains:

🚂 Train 01051 (LTT to Banaras):

• Days: Wednesday & Thursday

• Total Services: 24 bi-weekly trains  🚂 Train 01052 (Return - Banaras to LTT):

• Days: Thursday & Friday

Banaras Route Stations:

Nashik Road • Jalgaon • Bhusaval • Khandwa • Itarsi • Katni • Satna • Manikpur • Prayagraj Chheoki • Varanasi

8. Hadapsar-Gorakhpur Daily Special Trains: Pune to Bihar Route

Central Railway also runs 64 daily special services between Hadapsar (near Pune) and Gorakhpur, providing alternative connectivity from Pune region during festival season.

Train Schedule:

🚂 Train 01415 (Hadapsar to Gorakhpur):

• Departure: 7:05 AM daily

• Duration: October 16 to November 16, 2026 

🚂 Train 01416 (Return - Gorakhpur to Hadapsar):

• Departure: 5:30 PM daily • Duration: October 17 to November 17, 2026

Major Halt Stations:

Ahilyanagar • Manmad • Bhusaval • Khandwa • Itarsi • Bhopal • Bina • Jhansi • Kanpur Central • Lucknow • Gonda • Mankapur • Basti

9. Southern Coastal Routes: Kerala & Goa Special Trains

Plan a festive getaway to South India's beautiful coastal regions! Central Railway operates special services to Kerala and Goa during the festival season.

LTT-Thiruvananthapuram Special Trains (Kerala Route):

• Frequency: 12 weekly special services

• Route: LTT Mumbai to Thiruvananthapuram North

• Halt Stations: Ratnagiri • Kankavali • Madgaon • Karwar • Mangalore • Kasaragod • Kannur • Kozhikode • Shoranur • Thrissur • Ernakulam • Kottayam • Kollam • Varkala

LTT-Madgaon Special Trains (Goa Route):

• Frequency: 14 weekly special services

• Route: LTT Mumbai to Madgaon

• Purpose: Additional travel options towards Goa during festival season

10. Additional Festival Routes from Pune, Hadapsar & Nagpur

Central Railway has also arranged special train services from other major stations to enhance connectivity during the festive season:

📍 Pune-New Amravati-Pune: 12 weekly AC special services

📍 Hadapsar-Ghazipur City-Hadapsar: 24 bi-weekly services

📍 Nagpur-Hadapsar-Nagpur: 26 bi-weekly services

📍 Nagpur-Hadapsar-Nagpur: 14 weekly services

📍 Kolhapur-Kalaburagi-Kolhapur: 64 services (5 days a week, except Friday)

Pro Tips for Booking & Traveling on Central Railway Special Trains

💡 Booking Tips:

• Book immediately on September 27-28 as seats fill up quickly • Have your ID proof details ready before booking • Opt for early morning or late-night trains for better availability • Book round-trip tickets for additional discounts • Check for senior citizen, student, and other applicable discounts • Enable notifications on Yatri app for real-time train updates

✈️ Travel Tips:

• Arrive at station 30-45 minutes before departure • Keep your ticket and ID proof accessible • Travel light but ensure essentials are packed • Secure valuables in locked compartments • Follow all COVID-19 guidelines if any • Inform TTE (Ticket Examiner) if you need assistance

💳 Savings Tips:

• Travel on non-peak festival days for lower fares • Book sleeper class to save on AC charges • Check for group discounts (10+ people) • Use promotional codes on Yatri app or IRCTC website • Opt for longer routes with more halts for cheaper fares • Senior citizens get 40% discount (age 60+)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Central Railway 418 Special Trains

Q1: How many total special trains is Central Railway running in 2026?

Central Railway is operating 418 special train services across various routes to manage the rush during Durga Puja, Diwali, and Chhath festivals in 2026.

Q2: When does booking start for these special trains?

Booking starts from September 27-28, 2026. Different trains have opening dates on either September 27 or September 28, so check IRCTC website or Yatri Official Railways App for specific train details.

Q3: Is Yatri Official Railways App safe and secure?

Yes! Yatri is the official app of Indian Railways, making it completely safe and secure. It uses 256-bit SSL encryption for all transactions and follows PCI DSS compliance for payment security. Your personal and financial information is protected by the highest security standards.

Q4: Can I use Yatri app to check train status and PNR?

Yes! Yatri Official Railways App allows you to check PNR status, track train location in real-time, get delay alerts, and receive platform notifications. Simply enter your PNR number in the app.

Q5: What if I miss booking on IRCTC on September 27-28?

You can still book through Tatkal booking (1 day before journey) on IRCTC website. However, Tatkal fares are usually higher. You can also visit railway stations' CRC for counter booking if seats are available.

Q6: Which station should I board from for Central Railway 418 special trains?

Main originating stations are CSMT (Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus) Mumbai, LTT (Lokmanya Tilak Terminus), Hadapsar (near Pune), and Nagpur. However, you can board/alight at any intermediate station mentioned in the route. Search on Yatri app with your preferred boarding station.

Major Railway Stations Connected by Central Railway 418 Special Trains

State • City • Railway Stations  Maharashtra • Mumbai • CSMT, LTT, Dadar, Thane, Kalyan, Hadapsar, Pune, Nashik Road, Manmad, Jalgaon, Bhusaval, Khandwa, Nagpur, Kolhapur  Uttar Pradesh • Lucknow, Kanpur Central, Gorakhpur, Banaras (Varanasi), Mau, Ghazipur City, Gonda, Mankapur, Basti, Orai, Khalilabad  Madhya Pradesh • Itarsi, Bhopal, Bina, Jhansi, Katni, Satna, Manikpur  Karnataka • Bengaluru (SMVT), Belagavi, Dharwad, Hubballi, Davangere, Tumakuru, Raichur, Kalaburagi, Guntakal  Tamil Nadu • Chennai Beach, Perambur, Arakkonam, Renigunta, Kadapa  Telangana • Prayagraj Chheoki  Kerala • Thiruvananthapuram North, Kollam, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Shoranur, Kozhikode, Kannur, Kasaragod  Goa • Madgaon, Karwar  Karnataka (Coastal) • Mangalore

Conclusion: Plan Your Festival Travel with Central Railway & Yatri App 2026

The Central Railway's announcement of 418 special trains for Durga Puja, Diwali, and Chhath 2026 is great news for millions of festival travelers across India. Whether you're heading home to Bengal for Puja, traveling to Bihar for Chhath, or planning a Diwali vacation to South India, these special trains provide reliable, comfortable, and affordable transportation options.

With multiple routes covering Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala, Central Railway ensures that no region is left without festival connectivity. From daily express trains to AC special services, there's something for every traveler's budget and preference.

📱 Made Easy with Yatri Official Railways App!

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