Indian Railways has launched a brand-new express train service connecting Bengaluru and Mumbai, offering major relief to passengers frequently travelling between the two metro cities. The inaugural run of the train began on May 17, while regular operations will officially start later this month.

The newly introduced Bengaluru–Mumbai Express is expected to improve connectivity for passengers travelling through several important cities including Hubballi-Dharwad, Belagavi, Pune and Mumbai. The service will be operated and maintained by South Western Railway (SWR).

Regular Service to Begin From May 23

The train will operate under numbers 16553 and 16554 for regular journeys. However, the inaugural special service running on May 17 has been assigned train number 06557.

The train will run between Sir M. Visvesvaraya Terminal (SMVT) Bengaluru and Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (LTT) Mumbai. The journey covers nearly 1,210 kilometres and takes approximately 24 hours and 5 minutes to complete.

Regular services from Bengaluru will begin on May 23, while the Mumbai-to-Bengaluru route will start from May 24.

Major Stations Covered on the Route

The new express train will halt at 15 important stations during its journey.

The scheduled stoppages include:

• Tumakuru
• Davangere
• SSS Hubballi
• Dharwad
• Belagavi
• Miraj
• Sangli
• Karad
• Satara
• Lonand
• Pune
• Lonavala
• Karjat
• Kalyan
• Thane

The route has been designed to benefit both long-distance travellers and passengers commuting between major commercial and educational hubs.

Bengaluru to Mumbai Train Timings

Train number 16553, operating from Bengaluru to Mumbai, will depart from SMVT Bengaluru every Tuesday and Saturday at 8:35 PM.

The train will reach Lokmanya Tilak Terminus in Mumbai on Wednesday and Sunday at 8:40 PM.

Mumbai to Bengaluru Train Timings

Train number 16554, travelling from Mumbai to Bengaluru, will leave Lokmanya Tilak Terminus every Sunday and Wednesday at 11:15 PM.

It is scheduled to arrive at SMVT Bengaluru on Monday and Thursday at 10:30 PM.

Special Timing for Inaugural Journey

For the inaugural service on May 17, the train departed Bengaluru at 10:00 AM and is expected to reach Mumbai at approximately 10:30 AM the next day.

Ticket Fare Details

Indian Railways has also announced the fare structure for the new Bengaluru–Mumbai Express service.

The ticket prices are:

• Sleeper Class: ₹750
• AC 3 Tier (3AC): ₹1,880
• AC 2 Tier (2AC): ₹2,575

The train is expected to become a popular option among business travellers, students, tourists and working professionals due to its direct connectivity and comfortable travel options.

Boost to Intercity Connectivity

The launch of this new train service comes as part of Indian Railways’ broader efforts to strengthen intercity rail connectivity across major economic corridors in the country.

Both Bengaluru and Mumbai are among India’s largest business and technology hubs, and thousands of passengers travel between the two cities every week for work, education, healthcare and tourism purposes.

With improved schedules, multiple stoppages across Karnataka and Maharashtra, and affordable ticket pricing, the new express train is likely to significantly improve travel convenience for passengers across the region.