One of the most-awaited Hindu festivals is almost here and travellers must already be planning to head to Maharashtra’s Konkan region for Ganesh Chaturthi 2026. In a bid to manage the annual festive rush, Central Railway has announced 246 Ganpati Special train services. The news comes as a relief for thousands of devotees travelling home to celebrate the festival. As per Central Railway, the special train plan consists of 184 reserved special trains. These include AC, Sleeper and Unreserved coaches, along with 62 unreserved MEMU (Mainline Electric Multiple Unit) special services. MEMU is intended for short-distance passengers. With this, railways aim at reducing congestion on regular services, especially on the busy Mumbai-Konkan routes during one of Maharashtra’s biggest festivals.The 246 Ganpati Special trainsAs per the official announcement, the services will be operated from several stations, including:
- 98 from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT), Mumbai
- 76 from Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (LTT), Mumbai
- 10 services from Pune
- 62 unreserved MEMU special services for regional travel
These trains will cater to those travelling between Mumbai, Pune and Konkan destinations which witness a huge influx of devotees during Ganesh Chaturthi.When will bookings open?
Central Railway has announced that reservations for the reserved Ganpati Special trains will be released in phases through the Passenger Reservation System (PRS) and the IRCTC booking platform.The booking schedule is as follows:
- August 1, 2026: Train Nos. 01153, 01445, 01167 and 01447
August 2, 2026: Train Nos. 01165 and 01185
August 3, 2026: Train Nos. 01103, 01129, 01151, 01171 and 01131
Passengers are advised to book their tickets as early as possible.How to book tickets?Central Railway said passengers can reserve tickets through:
- Passenger Reservation System (PRS) counters nationwide
- The IRCTC online booking platform.
- RailOne app for railway services.
- UTS (Unreserved Ticketing System) for booking unreserved coach tickets.
Ganesh Chaturthi
Ganesh Chaturthi
Ganesh Chaturthi is one of the main cultural identities of Maharashtra. Lakhs of people travel from Mumbai and neighbouring cities to their hometowns across the Konkan region every year and therefore; demand for train tickets typically surges.By introducing 246 Ganpati Special trains, Central Railway aims to improve connectivity, provide additional seating capacity and make festive travel smoother for devotees. The combination of reserved long-distance trains and unreserved MEMU services is expected to benefit both long-distance travellers and those making shorter regional journeys during the festival period.Sources: Official announcement by Central Railway (via CPRO); Indian Railways reservation details; National Train Enquiry System (NTES).