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Central Railway has announced 246 Ganpati Special trains for the upcoming Ganesh Chaturthi festival in 2026 to handle the expected rise in passenger demand during the festive season. The additional train services will help thousands of devotees travelling from Mumbai, Pune and other cities to reach their hometowns in the Konkan region, Goa and nearby destinations.
Ganpati Special Trains 2026
According to Dr Swapnil Nila, Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) of Central Railway, out of the 246 special trains, 184 services will operate as mixed special trains with AC, sleeper and unreserved coaches. The remaining 62 trains will run as fully unreserved special services to provide more travel options for passengers during the festival rush.
Ganpati Special Trains to Operate on Busy Routes
The special trains will operate on several busy routes connecting major cities with popular destinations. These include services between Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) and Sawantwadi Road, CSMT and Ratnagiri, Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (LTT) and Sawantwadi Road, LTT and Ratnagiri, LTT and Madgaon, Pune and Ratnagiri, and Diva-Khed and Diva-Chiplun MEMU routes.
Among the major services, the CSMT-Sawantwadi Road Daily Special will operate from September 11 to September 26, 2026. The train will leave CSMT at 3.30 pm and reach Sawantwadi Road at 4 am the next day. The return service will depart Sawantwadi Road at 4.35 am and arrive at CSMT at 4.40 pm.
Other special services include trains between LTT and Madgaon, Pune and Ratnagiri, and additional MEMU services between Diva and Konkan destinations. Some trains will operate daily, while others will run weekly or on selected days during the festival period.
Advisory for Passengers
Passengers can book reserved tickets through Passenger Reservation System (PRS) counters, IRCTC and RailOne platforms. Unreserved tickets will be available through the UTS mobile application at regular fares. Travellers can also check train timings, stoppages and other details through the National Train Enquiry System (NTES) app or railway enquiry portal.
Central Railway has advised passengers to book tickets early as Ganesh Chaturthi is one of the busiest travel periods in Maharashtra. The special train arrangements aim to reduce overcrowding, improve connectivity and ensure a smoother journey for devotees travelling during the festival.