Pune, 15 April 2026: To handle the increased passenger demand during the summer season, Central Railway has introduced weekly special train services connecting Mumbai and Pune with Chennai and Bengaluru.
The move is aimed at improving travel convenience and easing congestion on some of the busiest long-distance routes.
The Mumbai–Chennai weekly special will run between Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus and Chennai via Pune. Train number 01015 will depart every Sunday at 00:20 hrs from April 19 to June 7, 2026, reaching Chennai at 23:30 hrs the same day.
The return service, train number 01016, will leave Chennai every Monday at 04:00 hrs from April 20 to June 8, arriving in Mumbai the next day at 04:15 hrs.
This train will halt at several key stations along the route, including Lonavala, Solapur, Kalaburagi, Guntakal, Renigunta and Arakkonam, ensuring connectivity across major regions between Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu. The service is expected to benefit both long-distance travellers and those commuting between intermediate cities.
In addition, Central Railway has announced a weekly special service between Lokmanya Tilak Terminus in Mumbai and Bengaluru via Pune. Train number 01013 will depart every Sunday at 11:50 hrs from April 19 to July 12, 2026, reaching Bengaluru at 11:45 hrs the following day.
The return train, 01014, will leave Bengaluru every Monday at 13:50 hrs from April 20 to July 13, arriving in Mumbai at 13:30 hrs the next day.
The Mumbai–Bengaluru service will stop at major stations such as Thane, Kalyan, Lonavala, Pune, Satara, Sangli, Miraj, Belagavi, Hubballi, Davangere and Tumakuru, improving regional connectivity between Maharashtra and Karnataka.
Both trains will have a similar coach composition, including AC 2-tier, AC 3-tier, sleeper class and general second-class coaches, offering travel options for different categories of passengers.
Bookings for these services opened on April 15, 2026, and tickets can be booked through reservation centers or online via IRCTC Rail Connect, while unreserved tickets are available through the UTS system.