New Bengaluru-Mumbai bi-weekly express service from May 23; route, schedule and halt details here

Travellers between Bengaluru and Mumbai will soon get a new direct rail service, as the Ministry of Railways has approved a bi-weekly express train connecting the two major cities.

The new SMVT Bengaluru–Lokmanya Tilak Terminus Bi-Weekly Express has been introduced in response to rising passenger demand and persistent overcrowding on existing trains, particularly the Udyaan Express. The service will begin operations from Sir M Visvesvaraya Terminal (SMVT) in Bengaluru on May 23, while the inaugural return journey from Mumbai’s Lokmanya Tilak Terminus is scheduled for May 24.

Railway officials said the train will leave SMVT Bengaluru every Tuesday and Saturday at 8:35 pm and reach Mumbai at 8:40 pm the following evening. The return service from Mumbai will run every Wednesday and Sunday, departing Lokmanya Tilak Terminus at 11:15 pm and arriving in Bengaluru at 10:30 pm.

The train will stop at several key stations across Karnataka and Maharashtra, including Davanagere, Hubballi, Dharwad, Belagavi, Miraj, Sangli, Karad, Satara, Pune, Lonavala, Karjat, Kalyan and Thane. Officials believe the new train will help reduce pressure on the heavily crowded Bengaluru-Mumbai route, where passengers often struggle with long waiting lists and limited ticket availability.

Despite the additional service, travel time between the two cities will continue to remain above 23 hours, prompting ongoing demands for faster rail connectivity. Railway officials said a superfast express service on the same corridor could also be announced in the near future.

The proposed Vande Bharat sleeper train between Bengaluru and Mumbai, expected to be launched later this year, is also being seen as a major step towards improving connectivity between the country’s technology and financial capitals.

Before regular operations begin, South Western Railway will run a special inaugural service on May 17.

The railway zone has additionally announced the regularisation of nine special train services, including routes linking Channapatna, Hassan, Bangarpet, Ashokapuram, Talguppa and Visakhapatnam.