Indian Railways introduces two special trains between Mumbai and Howrah to ease travel ahead of West Bengal Assembly elections.
April 12, 2026: The Ministry of Railways has announced two special train services between Mumbai and Howrah ahead of the upcoming West Bengal Assembly elections. Operated from Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (LTT) under Central Railway, the initiative is aimed at helping migrant workers from West Bengal travel home to cast their votes, while also managing the summer vacation rush.
Train No. 01145 (LTT–Howrah Special) will depart from Mumbai at 8:15 pm on April 14 and arrive at Howrah Junction at 6:00 am on April 16. The return service, Train No. 01146, will leave Howrah at 2:45 pm on April 16 and reach LTT at 11:45 pm on April 17. Both trains will halt at 17 stations along the route, including major stops like Nagpur, Raipur, and Kharagpur.
The trains will feature a mix of AC, sleeper, and general coaches to cater to different passenger needs. Bookings for the LTT–Howrah service will open on April 12 through reservation centres and the IRCTC platform, while unreserved tickets can be booked via the UTS system or RailOne app. The move is expected to provide significant relief to travellers during the busy election and holiday season.