India Travel Boost as Western Railway Adds Powerful New Bandra Palitana Special Train for Festival Journeys

Written By: Shraddha Das

Shraddha Das

I am a passionate travel writer at Travel and Tour World (TTW) with two years of experience covering the ever-evolving world of travel, tourism, aviation, and hospitality. She enjoys turning complex industry updates into engaging stories that inspire and inform readers around the globe. With a keen eye for detail and a love for discovering what makes every destination unique, Shraddha is committed to delivering accurate, insightful, and reader-friendly content that connects people with the world of travel.

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September 7, 2026 10:59 AM

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India’s travel connectivity receives a major boost as Western Railway introduces a special Bandra Terminus–Palitana Superfast train to handle rising passenger demand during the Paryushan festival period. The temporary service will provide additional travel options between Mumbai and Gujarat with two special trips, while extended Mumbai Central services to Ahmedabad and Indore will further strengthen rail availability across key routes. The move is expected to support smoother festival travel, reduce pressure on regular trains and offer passengers greater flexibility during one of the busiest seasonal travel periods.

Western Railway has strengthened passenger connectivity in western India by introducing a new Bandra Terminus–Palitana Superfast Special train and extending the operations of several Mumbai Central services to Ahmedabad and Indore. The additional rail arrangements aim to manage increased travel demand during the Paryushan festival period while providing more travel options across Maharashtra, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh.

The temporary festival service will operate for two trips between Bandra Terminus and Palitana, while existing special trains on important intercity corridors will continue running for extended periods, helping passengers plan journeys during a high-demand travel season.

Western Railway Introduces Special Train Between Mumbai and Palitana for Festival Travel Demand

Western Railway has announced the operation of a special Superfast train connecting Bandra Terminus in Mumbai with Palitana in Gujarat to handle additional passenger movement during the Paryushan festival.

The newly introduced service, Train No. 09023 Bandra Terminus–Palitana Superfast Special, will depart from Bandra Terminus at 7.25 pm on September 6, 2026, and reach Palitana at 9.25 am the following day.

The return journey will be operated as Train No. 09024 Palitana–Bandra Terminus Special. The train will leave Palitana at 8 pm on September 7, 2026, and arrive at Bandra Terminus at 9.30 am the next morning.

The service will operate on a special fare and has been planned as a temporary arrangement to provide additional capacity during the festival period when passenger numbers are expected to increase.

New Rail Service Connects Major Cities Across Maharashtra and Gujarat

The Bandra Terminus–Palitana Special will provide connectivity through several important stations along the route. The train will stop at Borivali, Vapi, Valsad, Surat, Vadodara, Anand, Ahmedabad, Botad, Dhola, Songadh and Sihor in both directions.

These stoppages will allow passengers from multiple cities to access the temporary service while travelling towards Palitana, an important destination in Gujarat.

The train will include Sleeper Class and General Second Class coaches, offering reserved and non-reserved travel options for passengers.

The introduction of the special train is expected to provide additional support on a route that sees increased movement during religious festivals and seasonal travel periods.

Mumbai Ahmedabad Travel Gets Longer Rail Availability

Along with the new Bandra Terminus–Palitana service, Western Railway has extended the operation period of special trains between Mumbai Central and Ahmedabad.

Train No. 09087 Mumbai Central–Ahmedabad Special will now continue its services until November 25, 2026.

The return service, Train No. 09088 Ahmedabad–Mumbai Central Special, has been extended until November 26, 2026.

The continuation of these services will maintain additional rail options between two major commercial and travel hubs in western India.

Mumbai and Ahmedabad remain among the busiest railway connections in the region, supporting large numbers of passengers travelling for business, tourism, family visits and other purposes.

Mumbai Indore Special Trains Extended Until November 2026

Western Railway has also extended multiple special train services operating between Mumbai Central and Indore.

Train No. 09079 Mumbai Central–Indore Special will now operate until November 29, 2026, while Train No. 09080 Indore–Mumbai Central Special will continue until November 30.

Another pair of services on the same route has also received an extension.

Train No. 09085 Mumbai Central–Indore Special will remain operational until November 27, 2026. Its return service, Train No. 09086 Indore–Mumbai Central Special, will continue until November 28.

The extended services will help maintain additional passenger capacity between Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh during a period when demand for intercity travel is expected to remain strong.

More Railway Options Provide Support During Peak Travel Period

Festival seasons often create higher demand for railway services as passengers travel for religious events, family gatherings and regional celebrations.

The introduction of the Bandra Terminus–Palitana Superfast Special and the extension of Mumbai Central–Ahmedabad and Mumbai Central–Indore services are expected to provide passengers with greater flexibility while planning their journeys.

Additional train availability can help reduce pressure on regular services and give travellers more choices when selecting departure dates and routes.

For passengers travelling during busy periods, advance planning remains important because special trains can experience high booking demand soon after reservations open.

Passengers Can Book Through Railway Reservation Channels

Bookings for the Bandra Terminus–Palitana Superfast Special and the extended trips of other special trains are available through the Passenger Reservation System counters and the IRCTC online platform.

Travellers should verify train numbers, departure timings and boarding stations before confirming their tickets to avoid confusion between different special services operating on similar routes.

Passengers can also check updated details regarding schedules, stoppages and coach arrangements through official Indian Railways enquiry systems.

India’s travel network gains extra capacity as Western Railway adds a special Bandra Terminus–Palitana train to manage higher Paryushan festival demand and extends key Mumbai routes to Ahmedabad and Indore. The move gives travellers more options during the busy festive period.

Western Railway Strengthens Connectivity Across Key Travel Corridors

The latest railway measures provide a temporary expansion of passenger connectivity across western and central India.

The special Bandra Terminus–Palitana service will support festival-related travel demand, while extended Mumbai Central–Ahmedabad and Mumbai Central–Indore trains will continue offering additional options for passengers beyond the immediate festival period.

With more services available across major routes, travellers will have improved flexibility when planning journeys between Mumbai, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh.

Passengers using these services should continue checking official railway updates before departure to confirm the latest operational details and ensure a smoother travel experience.