Daijiworld Media Network- Mumbai
Mumbai, Jan 17: Western Railway has announced two special trains between Mumbai and Ahmedabad on January 25 (Saturday) and January 26 (Sunday) to cater to the surge in demand for travel to attend the Coldplay concerts at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Gujarat.
An official confirmed on Thursday, January 16, that while these trains are winter specials as per the directive of the Railway Board, they are being operated to manage the extra passenger rush due to the highly anticipated concerts by the renowned rock band.
Train Timings and Details
1. Mumbai to Ahmedabad:
o Departure from Bandra Terminus:
? January 25 at 6:15 am, reaching Ahmedabad at 2:00 pm.
? January 26 at 6:15 am, reaching Ahmedabad at 1:00 pm.
2. Ahmedabad to Mumbai (Return):
o Departure from Ahmedabad:
? January 26 at 1:40 am, arriving at Bandra Terminus at 8:40 am.
? January 27 at 12:50 am, arriving at Bandra Terminus at 8:30 am.
Suburban Local Trains for Concert Days
To further ease travel for attendees, special suburban locals will be operated between Goregaon and Nerul stations in Navi Mumbai:
• January 18 and 19:
o Departure from Goregaon: 2:00 pm, reaching Nerul at 3:23 pm via Wadala Road station.
o Return from Nerul: 11:04 pm, reaching Goregaon at 12:30 am.
• January 21:
o Departure from Goregaon: 2:50 pm, reaching Nerul at 6:18 pm.
o Return from Nerul: 10:50 pm, reaching Goregaon at 12:15 am.
These suburban locals will halt only at Bandra, Andheri, Wadala Road, Chembur, and Jainagar stations in both directions.
Booking and Concerns
Tickets for the special trains are being booked via Book My Show. However, it remains unclear whether the trains are exclusively for concert ticket holders or open to the general public.
Officials noted that airfares between Mumbai and Ahmedabad have soared due to the concerts, while regular trains on the route are fully booked. Based on past experiences with events like the Cricket World Cup, even these winter specials may not suffice to meet the demand.
These measures aim to ensure smooth travel for thousands of fans attending the Coldplay concerts.