The service, which began operations from Haldwani and Kathgodam, immediately attracted strong passenger demand driven by the ongoing tourism season. On Thursday, the train arriving from Mumbai at Kathgodam departed again for Mumbai at 5:30 PM, marking its scheduled return journey. Officials reported that both sleeper and AC class berths were fully occupied, reflecting unprecedented demand on the route.
According to railway officials, advance bookings indicate full occupancy for travel dates including June 4 and June 11 as well. The surge in passenger traffic has also resulted in long waiting lists across other major routes, particularly trains operating towards Delhi and Dehradun, where passengers are facing significant difficulty securing even immediate reservations.
The fare structure has been fixed at 725 rupees for sleeper class, 1,835 rupees for AC 3-tier, and 2,610 rupees for AC 2-tier from Kathgodam to Mumbai. The train covers key stops including Haldwani, Lal Kuan, Kichha, Baheri, Izzatnagar, Bareilly, Badaun, Kasganj, Mathura, Kota, Vadodara, Surat, and Borivali before reaching Mumbai Central.
Railway administration stated that the introduction of this service is expected to provide substantial relief to passengers traveling for tourism, business, and employment purposes, strengthening regional connectivity between Uttarakhand and Maharashtra.
The strong booking trend on the very first day underscores the high demand for long-distance connectivity between northern hill regions and India’s financial capital, signaling sustained passenger pressure on the route in the coming weeks.
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