Central Railway Announces 76 Winter Special Trains For Christmas–New Year Rush

For many travellers, the Christmas and New Year period brings packed stations, long waiting lists and crowded trains. To handle the seasonal rush this year, Central Railway has announced a series of winter special services across major routes in Maharashtra and adjoining states. A total of 76 winter special trains will operate from mid-December to early January to meet the increased passenger demand during the holiday season.The services will run on busy corridors connecting Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Goa, Mangaluru, Thiruvananthapuram and Amravati. Central Railway has announced that bookings for several trains are already open, while others will be made available in phases.Mumbai To Karmali And Other Key RoutesThe largest set of services will operate between Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus and Karmali in Goa. A total of 36 daily special trains are scheduled between December 19 and January 5. Train 01151 will depart CSMT at 00:20 hours daily and reach Karmali at 13:30 hours the same day. The return service, train 01152, will leave Karmali at 14:15 hours and arrive in Mumbai at 03:45 hours the next day.These trains will halt at Dadar, Thane, Panvel, Pen, Roha, Khed, Chiplun, Sangameshwar Road, Ratnagiri, Kankavali, Kudal and Thivim. The rake will comprise AC two-tier and three-tier coaches, sleeper coaches, general second-class coaches, and guard’s brake vans.Additional specials will connect Mumbai with Thiruvananthapuram and Mangaluru. The Mumbai LTT to Thiruvananthapuram North weekly special will run eight services between December 18 and January 10. Train 01171 will depart every Thursday at 16:00 hours, and Train 01172 will return every Saturday at 16:20 hours. The route includes halts across the Konkan and Kerala regions, including Panvel, Ratnagiri, Madgaon, Karwar, Udupi, Mangaluru, Kannur, Kozhikode, Thrissur and several stations up to Varkala Sivagiri.Another eight services will run between Mumbai LTT and Mangaluru Junction. Train 01185 will depart on Tuesdays at 16:00 hours and arrive in Mangaluru the next morning, while the return train, 01186, will operate on Wednesdays at 13:00 hours.Special Trains From PuneCentral Railway will run multiple winter specials from Pune to Nagpur, Sanganer and Amravati.The Pune-Nagpur route will see six weekly services. Train 01401 will leave Pune every Friday at 20:30 hours between December 19 and January 2. The return train 01402 will operate on Saturdays at 16:10 hours and reach Pune the next morning. These trains halt at Daund Chord Line, Ahilyanagar, Belapur, Kopargaon, Manmad, Chalisgaon, Jalgaon, Bhusaval, Malkapur, Shegaon, Akola, Murtizapur, Badnera, Dhamangaon and Wardha.Six weekly superfast specials will connect Pune with Sanganer. Train 01405 will operate on Fridays at 09:45 hours from December 19 to January 2 and reach Sanganer the next morning. The return service 01406 will leave on Saturdays at 11:35 hours. Halts include Lonavala, Kalyan, Vasai Road, Vapi, Surat, Vadodara, Ratlam, Kota and Sawai Madhopur.Six weekly specials will also run between Pune and Amravati. Train 01403 will depart Pune on Saturdays at 19:55 hours, and train 01404 will return from Amravati on Sundays at 12:00 hours. These trains will pass through stations including Daund Chord Line, Ahilyanagar, Kopargaon, Manmad, Jalgaon, Bhusaval, Malkapur, Shegaon and Akola.Mumbai To Nagpur Winter SpecialsCentral Railway will run six services between Mumbai CSMT and Nagpur. Train 01005 will depart Mumbai every Saturday at 00:30 hours from December 20 to January 3. Train 01006 will return from Nagpur at 18:10 hours on the same dates. The route covers major stations such as Dadar, Kalyan, Nashik Road, Manmad, Jalgaon, Bhusaval and Wardha.Coach compositions across all services include combinations of AC two-tier, AC three-tier, sleeper class, general second class and brake vans, depending on the route.Reservations And Travel DatesBookings for special train numbers 01403 and 01404 open on December 10, while reservations for trains 01151, 01171, 01185, 01005, 01006, 01401, 01402 and 01405 are already available at reservation centres and on the IRCTC website.Central Railway stated that the winter specials are designed to alleviate congestion during one of the busiest travel periods of the year, when demand traditionally surges across Maharashtra and neighbouring states.(With inputs from multiple news reports)FAQs1. How many winter special trains has Central Railway announced?Central Railway has announced 76 winter special trains across major routes, operating from mid-December to the first week of January.2. Which routes will get the highest number of winter special trains?The maximum services run between Mumbai CSMT and Karmali (Goa), with 36 daily specials scheduled between December 19 and January 5.3. When do bookings open for the winter special trains?Bookings for several trains, including 01151, 01171, 01185, 01005, 01006, 01401, 01402 and 01405, are already open on the IRCTC website and at reservation counters. Bookings for 01403 and 01404 open on December 10.4. Which winter special trains will run from Pune?Pune will get winter specials to Nagpur, Sanganer and Amravati, with six weekly services on each route.5. What classes are available on these special trains?Coach compositions vary by route but include AC 2-tier, AC 3-tier, sleeper class, general second class, and brake vans.6. Will Mumbai–Kerala and Mumbai–Mangaluru routes get extra trains?Yes. Central Railway will run eight specials each on the Mumbai LTT–Thiruvananthapuram and Mumbai LTT–Mangaluru routes.Indian Railways Expands OTP Verification To Tatkal Counter Bookings: Here’s What Changes For Passengers