Pune train bookings have reached 198% on some routes ahead of the festive season, creating a severe shortage of reserved seats for passengers travelling to northern and eastern parts of the country, according to railway data compiled up to September 30. The railway administration is planning special train services to manage the surge in demand.
The data shows that reservation demand has outstripped seat availability on several long-distance routes connecting Pune with other states. Passengers have been advised to check their reservation status and seat availability before travelling to the station, particularly if they are heading towards northern or eastern destinations.
Advance reservations opened two months before departure, but the available capacity on several regular services has been taken up by the seasonal rush. Travellers who cannot secure seats on their preferred trains may need to consider special services or adjust their travel dates, according to the information released by the railway administration.
A total of 106 trains operating to and from Pune have collectively completed 1,449 trips and carried around 6.7 lakh passengers. These services generated estimated ticket revenue of ₹76.8 crore, highlighting the scale of passenger movement through the city’s rail network during the period covered by the data.
The pressure is concentrated on long-distance services rather than across the entire Pune rail network. Trains connecting Pune with Mumbai have recorded substantially lower reservation levels. The Deccan Queen has reported reservations of 5.5%, while the Intercity Express has recorded 6.8%, the Indrayani Express 7.6%, the Deccan Express 8.1% and the Pragati Express 9.5%.
Reservation levels are also low on the Kolhapur–Pune Vande Bharat Express, at 4.9%, while bookings in the Pune–Kolhapur direction stand at 3.7%. The sharp variation between routes indicates that the immediate capacity constraint is linked mainly to festive travel demand towards northern and eastern destinations.
The railway administration’s planned special trains are intended to provide additional capacity during the rush. Passengers have been asked to verify their ticket status before setting out, as a confirmed reservation may be difficult to obtain on regularly scheduled services to high-demand destinations. Further travel arrangements will depend on the availability and operation of the special services announced by the railways.
