In a bid to alleviate the surge in passenger traffic during the peak Christmas and New Year travel season, Central Railway (CR) has announced the introduction of special trains between Mumbai and Nagpur, as well as Mumbai and Karmali. This move comes as part of CR’s ongoing effort to ensure smooth and efficient travel for thousands of passengers heading to popular destinations during the festive period.
The CR’s new initiative includes the deployment of 20 additional trains, with 2 special services on the Mumbai-Nagpur route and 18 more running between Mumbai and Karmali. These winter specials aim to manage the anticipated rise in passenger demand, particularly around Christmas and New Year, when train bookings traditionally experience a sharp spike. On the Mumbai-Nagpur route, two weekly special trains will operate, starting on 21st December 2024. The first, Train 02139, will depart from Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (LTT) at 00:55 hrs and arrive in Nagpur at 15:30 hrs on the same day. The return service, Train 02140, will depart Nagpur at 22:00 hrs, arriving at LTT Mumbai at 13:45 hrs the following day. Both services will stop at key stations, including Thane, Kalyan, Igatpuri, and Nashik Road, ensuring easy connectivity for passengers travelling from various locations.
The train composition for the LTT-Nagpur weekly specials includes a mix of premium and standard classes, with one AC First Cum AC-2 Tier coach, two AC-2 Tier coaches, nine AC-3 Tier coaches, two Sleeper Class coaches, and general second-class seating. This varied composition caters to a broad spectrum of travellers, from budget passengers to those seeking more comfortable travel options. Meanwhile, for passengers travelling towards the Konkan region, CR will also operate daily winter special trains between Mumbai and Karmali. These trains will run from 23rd December 2024 to 31st December 2024 in the Mumbai-Karmali direction, and from 24th December 2024 to 1st January 2025 in the return Karmali-Mumbai direction. Train 01149 will depart LTT at 15:30 hrs daily, arriving in Karmali at 05:30 hrs the next day, while Train 01150 will leave Karmali at 06:45 hrs and reach Mumbai at 22:15 hrs.
These trains will cover a variety of stations including Thane, Panvel, Ratnagiri, and Kudal, offering passengers from different parts of Maharashtra and Goa access to the train services. The train composition includes one AC First Cum AC-2 Tier coach, three AC-2 Tier coaches, 12 AC-3 Tier coaches, two Sleeper Class coaches, and two General Second Class/Chair Car coaches, providing ample seating across different fare categories. Both sets of special trains aim to manage the high travel demand during the festive season, ensuring that passengers can travel comfortably and conveniently to their holiday destinations. By providing more capacity and additional services, Central Railway hopes to streamline the travel experience, making it more efficient and less stressful for the growing number of passengers. As the demand for rail travel continues to rise during the festive season, such initiatives by Indian Railways are crucial in managing the challenges of overcrowding, ensuring safety, and promoting greater travel satisfaction.
