Delhi to Mumbai by Train — Best Trains, Time, and Fare

The Delhi–Mumbai rail corridor is the busiest long-distance route in India. Over 30 trains run daily between these two cities, covering roughly 1,384 km via the Western Railway route through Rajasthan and Gujarat, or about 1,530 km via the Central Railway route through Madhya Pradesh. Picking the right train can save you hours and hundreds of rupees, so here's what actually matters.

Two Main Routes

Most travelers don't realize there are two completely different paths between Delhi and Mumbai:

Western Route (via Rajasthan): Delhi → Mathura → Kota → Vadodara → Surat → Mumbai Central. This is the route Rajdhani Express takes. It's slightly shorter at around 1,384 km. Central Route (via MP): Delhi → Agra → Jhansi → Bhopal → Nagpur → Manmad → Mumbai CSMT. The Grand Trunk and other mail/express trains take this path. Longer at about 1,530 km but serves more cities.

Your choice depends on where you want to board and alight, and what intermediate stops matter to you.

Best Trains Compared

Train	Number	Departs	Arrives	Duration	Route	Fare Range (AC)
Mumbai Rajdhani	12951/52	16:25 NDLS	08:35 BCT	~16h 10m	Western	₹1,800–₹4,500
August Kranti Rajdhani	12953/54	17:40 HZM	10:55 BCT	~17h 15m	Western	₹1,800–₹4,500
Golden Temple Mail	12903/04	21:25 NDLS	19:15+1 BCT	~21h 50m	Western	₹700–₹2,800
Mumbai Duronto	12289/90	23:00 NDLS	16:10+1 BCT	~17h 10m	Western	₹1,600–₹4,200
Garib Rath	12909/10	15:50 NDLS	08:30+1 BCT	~16h 40m	Western	₹800–₹1,200
Paschim Express	12925/26	16:30 NDLS	12:30+1 BCT	~20h	Western	₹700–₹2,800

Fares are approximate and vary by season and availability. Check indianrail.app for live prices.

The Rajdhani — Still the Gold Standard?

Train 12951/52 Mumbai Rajdhani has been the prestige train on this route for decades. It departs New Delhi around 4:25 PM and rolls into Mumbai Central by 8:35 AM the next morning. The 16-hour journey includes meals (dinner, early morning tea, and breakfast) in the ticket price.

Here's the thing though — the Rajdhani's quality has become inconsistent over the years. Some rakes are well-maintained with clean linens and decent food. Others feel like they haven't been refurbished since 2005. The 3AC coaches tend to be more crowded and noisier than 2AC, so if budget allows, go for 2AC at minimum.

Pro tip: The August Kranti Rajdhani (12953/54) departs from Hazrat Nizamuddin, not New Delhi. If you're coming from South Delhi, Nizamuddin is far more convenient. The train is slightly slower but less crowded.

Duronto — The Underrated Pick

The Mumbai Duronto (12289/90) is a non-stop service that many people overlook. It runs via the same Western route but departs late at night (around 11 PM), which means you board, sleep, and wake up with most of the journey behind you. By late afternoon, you're in Mumbai.

The advantage? You're not wasting daylight hours sitting on a train. The downside is that the late departure means you arrive in Mumbai around 4 PM, right into rush hour traffic. Plan your onward travel accordingly.

Budget Option: Garib Rath

If you want AC travel without the Rajdhani price tag, the Garib Rath (12909/10) is genuinely good value. It's 3AC only, and the coaches are usually the newer LHB type. The fare runs about 40-50% less than Rajdhani 3AC.

The catch? No meals included, no bedding provided (bring your own blanket), and the seats are configured slightly tighter. But for the price difference, most budget travelers happily make this tradeoff. Carry your own food — the station food at intermediate stops is hit-or-miss.

Sleeper Class for the Budget Traveler

If you're watching every rupee, sleeper class on the Paschim Express or Golden Temple Mail costs around ₹400-500 for the same journey. These trains are slower (20+ hours) and sleeper class gets crowded, but they're perfectly functional.

Book well in advance — sleeper class waitlists on this route can be 200+ deep during festival season. Check your PNR status regularly on indianrail.app to track confirmation chances.

Booking Strategy

This route fills up fast. Tatkal opens at 10 AM for AC classes and 11 AM for non-AC, one day before departure. But Tatkal on Delhi-Mumbai is a bloodbath — thousands of people trying simultaneously.

Better strategies:

• Book general quota 120 days in advance. Set a reminder. Rajdhani fills within hours of opening.


• Try Ladies quota if you're a female traveler — it's often available even when general is waitlisted.


• Check for RAC tickets — on this route, RAC almost always confirms because of the high number of cancellations at intermediate stations.


• Avoid Friday/Sunday departures — these are the worst for availability. Tuesday and Wednesday trains are easiest to book.

Which Station in Mumbai?

This trips up newcomers. Mumbai Central (BCT) is where Western Railway trains (Rajdhani, Duronto, Paschim) arrive. Mumbai CSMT (formerly VT) is where Central Railway trains terminate.

Mumbai Central is in South Mumbai, well-connected by Western Line local trains. CSMT is in Fort area, closer to tourist spots like Gateway of India. Neither is convenient if you're headed to Navi Mumbai or Thane — in that case, check if your train stops at Dadar or Borivali.

Food and Comfort Tips

• The pantry car food on Rajdhani has improved recently, but it's still heavy on oil and spice. If you have a sensitive stomach, carry backup snacks.
• The Kota station stop (around 11 PM) is the last major halt before the early morning run to Mumbai. The platform food here is decent — look for the samosa stalls.
• AC coaches can get genuinely cold at night, especially in winter. The thin blankets provided are barely adequate. Carry a light jacket or shawl.
• Charging points exist but they're contested. Carry a power bank.

Is Flying Cheaper?

Sometimes, yes. Budget airlines frequently run Delhi-Mumbai for ₹2,500-4,000 during sales. A Rajdhani 2AC ticket costs ₹3,000-4,500. So the cost difference is negligible.

But trains win on comfort (you can stretch out and sleep properly), luggage (no 7kg cabin limit), and the experience of watching Rajasthan roll past your window. Plus, there's no airport commute time, no security lines, and no 2-hour buffer requirement.

For time-sensitive travel, fly. For everything else, the train is still king on this route.

Vande Bharat Update

Indian Railways has been planning a Vande Bharat service on the Delhi-Mumbai route. Once operational, this could cut travel time to under 12 hours with speeds up to 160 km/h. Keep an eye on indianrail.app for schedule updates as new services launch.