Railways – Central Railway Introduces 246 Special Trains for Ganesh Festival Rush
Railways –Central Railway has announced a major expansion of train services ahead of the 2026 Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations, aiming to ease passenger movement during one of Maharashtra’s busiest travel periods.
Central Railway has unveiled plans to operate 246 Ganpati Special trains during the 2026 Ganesh Chaturthi festival to manage the sharp rise in travel demand. The additional services are intended to strengthen rail connectivity between Mumbai, the Konkan region, Goa and Pune, allowing thousands of devotees to travel more comfortably during the festive season. Railway officials said the special schedule has been designed to reduce congestion on regular services while offering more travel options across key routes.
Special Train Services Planned for Festival Season
According to Dr. Swapnil Nila, Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) of Central Railway, the festival schedule includes 184 mixed special trains equipped with AC, Sleeper and unreserved coaches. In addition, 62 fully unreserved special trains will also be operated to accommodate passengers who prefer general-class travel.
The railway administration stated that these services have been introduced specifically to support the increased passenger movement typically witnessed during Ganesh Chaturthi. Every year, large numbers of people travel from Mumbai and nearby cities to their hometowns across the Konkan belt and other parts of Maharashtra to celebrate the festival with their families.
Ticket Booking and Passenger Information
Passengers can reserve seats for the special trains through all Passenger Reservation System (PRS) counters, the IRCTC platform and the RailOne application. Travelers opting for unreserved journeys can purchase tickets through the UTS system at standard fares.
For updated information regarding station halts, train timings and operational status, passengers have been advised to use the National Train Enquiry System (NTES) mobile application or the official Railway enquiry portal before commencing their journey.
Key Routes Included in the Special Schedule
The special services will cover several high-demand routes connecting major cities with important destinations in the Konkan region and Goa. These include Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) to Sawantwadi Road, CSMT to Ratnagiri, Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (LTT) to Sawantwadi Road, LTT to Ratnagiri, LTT to Madgaon, Pune to Ratnagiri, along with MEMU services between Diva and Khed, and Diva and Chiplun.
These routes are expected to witness the highest passenger demand during the festive period, making the additional services an important part of Central Railway’s seasonal travel plan.
Daily Operations Across Major Destinations
Among the key services, train numbers 01103 and 01104 will operate daily between CSMT and Sawantwadi Road from September 11 to September 27, 2026, providing a total of 32 services. The outbound train will depart CSMT at 3:30 pm and reach Sawantwadi Road the following morning at 4:00 am. The return service will leave Sawantwadi Road at 4:35 am and arrive at CSMT by 4:40 pm.
Another daily pair, train numbers 01151 and 01152, will also connect CSMT and Sawantwadi Road from September 11 to September 27, offering 34 services. These trains are scheduled to depart CSMT at 12:25 am, while the return journey from Sawantwadi Road will begin at 3:35 pm.
Central Railway has also scheduled daily CSMT-Ratnagiri special trains numbered 01153 and 01154, operating from September 11 to September 27 with a total of 32 services. These trains will depart CSMT at 11:30 am, while return services will leave Ratnagiri at 4:00 am.
Similarly, train numbers 01171 and 01172 between LTT and Sawantwadi Road will operate every day during the same period, providing 34 services. The train from LTT will depart at 8:20 am and reach Sawantwadi Road at 10:35 pm, offering another convenient option for festival travelers.