Away With The Steiners

Kolkata to Mumbai: Taking a train from one side of India to the other. 

Sarah Steiner

Taking the train Kolkata to Mumbai is quite literally a journey from one side of India to the other.  But what is it really like travelling across India by train? How long does it take? 

Here is everything about the journey including tickets, classes of train travel, tips to survive (and thrive!) and each of the options for taking the train from Kolkata to Mumbai. 

From Kolkata to Mumbai 

Kolkata, formerly spelled Calcutta, is the capital of West Bengal, and the third largest city in India (after Mumbai and Delhi).  It was named ‘Calcutta’ by the British and was the Empire’s most important trading post in the far east because of its strategic location on the Hooghly River that runs through the city.

Today it still retains much British colonial, Victorian-style architecture as the erstwhile capital of the British Raj and has a unique feel and different look to other cities in India.  

Mumbai, on the far other side of the subcontinent to the west, in India’s most populated city, a financial and commercial hub, and home to the world’s most prolific film industry. 

The contrast is almost extreme.  Where Kolkata is one of the last cities in the world to still have hand-pulled rickshaws, Mumbai has some of Asia’s wealthiest residents.  Both cities are entirely different in culture, heritage, and style while at opposite ends of the country but both, proudly front two of the most culturally rich destinations for travel in India. 

The challenge ergo, is how best to move between the two cities of Kolkata and Mumbai in order to see both.  

Busy morning on the streets of Kolkata before getting the train to Mumbai.
A busy morning on the streets of Kolkata.

Options for travel between Kolkata and Mumbai 

Kolkata and Mumbai are two out of three of India’s largest cities and thus they are well connected with other destinations in the country by road, rail and air. 

The fastest way from Kolkata to Mumbai is to fly direct with the domestic flight from Kolkata to Mumbai taking just under three hours.  

By road, the same journey would take more than 40 hours to cover the distance between the two cities of 1883.9km.  

The third option – and our choice – is by train Kolkata to Mumbai. 

The journey from one side of India to the other: Kolkata to Mumbai.

Train options from Kolkata to Mumbai 

There are six main train options that operate the direct route starting from Kolkata and ending in Mumbai. 

However, each of the above trains has a different schedule and not all of them operate daily.  

I’m guessing you could also go by similarly friendly bus from Kolkata to Mumbai?

Are the options of trains very different? 

The main differences between the trains operating the route Kolkata to Mumbai are the schedules, the departure and arrival stations in each city and the classes of ticket available for travel. 

Not all the trains Kolkata to Mumbai operate daily.

Read more about the departure and arrival stations and classes of travel below. 

How long does it take by train from Kolkata to Mumbai? 

Each of the journeys by train Kolkata to Mumbai takes between 31 – 38 hours.  

Yup!  That’s a seriously long time on a train. 

Our home-away-from-home and break from backpacking on board the train to Mumbai.

Is it the longest train journey in India? 

Believe it or not, this is not the longest train journey in India.   

In fact, it’s not even close.  

The longest train journey on the subcontinent connects Dibrugarh in Assam to Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu, traversing approximately 4,200 km. 

It only operates weekly and takes around 80 hours to complete its route, making over 50 stops along the way.  Imagine that! 

That’s a lot of stops!

Why did we take the train all that way instead of flying?

Well, that’s a very good question.  It was our third year of fulltime travel and before setting off from New Zealand we had booked a month first in Bangladesh.  

Our travel route saw us entering India in Kolkata and we wanted to get all the way to the other side of the country, to Jaisalmer, where we had left India the last time while the world was shutting down for the pandemic. 

We don’t really have such train journeys in New Zealand.  So, wherever we are in the world we find train-riding a novelty!  

We could see on the map that it would be one of the longest train journeys in India and thought it sounded like a pretty darn cool – and seriously unique – journey to add to our story!  

And that, is how we decided to take the long-but-epic journey by train Kolkata to Mumbai. 

The incredible Taj Hotel in Mumbai felt even more incredible after our journey to get there from Kolkata.

Which train to choose? 

We took the MUMBAI MAIL Express train from Kolkata to Mumbai.  

Our reason for choosing this train was largely due to the departure time and arrival time during the day. 

The other trains that arrive in the wee hours of the morning make it trickier to check in to accommodation and mean paying for an extra night.

What is train travel like in India? 

We love train travel in India.  It is absolutely the best way to get a glimpse into local life in India and it truly is nothing like the images of riding on the rooves of trains that you might be imagining. 

There are loads of different types of train and classes of train travel in India that do make a difference.  But give or take a few chai’s and chapati, or the wandering cows just outside the railway station, and you could (almost) be anywhere in the world! 

Our (honest) review of the journey by train from Kolkata to Mumbai 

Truly?  We had a good experience of taking the train Kolkata to Mumbai.  Despite it being an (obviously) lengthy journey, we enjoyed the challenge of a train literally right across the Indian subcontinent.

We had booked AC First Class (1A) tickets and travelled as a family of four which meant we had four private bunks in our cabin.  It was spacious and comfortable as far as train journeys go in India.  But we did fast learn it was also (again, obviously) very isolated being in our own cabin in the First Class carriage.  

We went for a walk and the kids met another family in the neighbouring Second Class (2A) carriage and they ended up coming in to hang out with us and play with the kids for a bit.  But apart from that we relaxed and made the most of otherwise-uninterrupted and forced rest time after a very busy previous month in Bangladesh. 

Harry demonstrating the size and very-clean cabin in AC First Class (1A) on board.
Setting up for the night in our cabin on board the Mumbai Mail.

Classes of train travel in India

There are eight different classes of train travel in India that vary by comfort level, amenities and price. 

These are the classes of train travel in India listed in descending order according of price per fare. 

However, the decision of which train travel class to take for the route by train Kolkata to Mumbai is less complicated as not all these classes are available.

The AC First Class (1A) cabins have a lockable door and each cabin has either 2 or 4 bunks inside.
The AC 2-Tier or Second Class (2A) cabins on board the Mumbai Mail are separated from the main carriage with a curtain.

Classes of train travel from Kolkata to Mumbai 

To make it simpler, not all the trains Kolkata to Mumbai have all the classes of travel available on Indian Railway. 

We travelled on the Mumbai Mail train Kolkata to Mumbai in AC First Class (1A).

For shorter-mid train distances during daytime train travel in India we usually try to book Chair Class (CC).  However, this is not practical for such a long journey like the train from Kolkata to Mumbai! 

An early breakfast with the lower bunk still folded down to a bed in our AC First Class (1A) cabin on board the Mumbai Mail.

Railway Stations in Kolkata and Mumbai 

There are five major railway stations serving the cities of Kolkata and Howrah, though three of the railway stations serve the route by train Kolkata to Mumbai: 

Howrah Railway Station (HWH) is the main train station in Kolkata and serves the intercity lines and long-distance lines from Kolkata and Howrah to other cities in West Bengal and India.  It was opened in 1854 and is the second oldest station in India and also one of the largest railway stations of the country. 

Note Howrah Railway Station (HWH) has two terminals. Platform numbers 1 to 16 are in the old Terminal #1 while platform numbers 17 to 23 are in the new Terminal #2. 

There are also five major railway stations in Mumbai, of which Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (Victoria or MaharajTerminus) and Central Railway Station are the major ones.  

For the trains Kolkata to Mumbai the stations in Mumbai are:

It is IMPORTANT to check the departure station and the station code of your train ticket so you know which railway station you are traveling to and from.  However it is easier for the train from Bikaner to Amritsar as it departs and arrives from the main railway stations in each city. 

The ever-busy Howrah Junction (HWH) railway station in Kolkata.

Departing Kolkata 

If you are departing from Howrah Junction (HWH) in Kolkata it is easy to get a taxi or rickshaw to the station.  Be aware that this is one of the oldest and largest railway stations in India and it can be notoriously busy. 

Indian Railways offers air-conditioned waiting lounges and retiring rooms at most railway stations.  At Howrah Junction (HWH) in Kolkata there is an AC Waiting Room (for passengers travelling in 3A, 2A, 1A or CC and EC as well as an air-conditioned Executive Lounge. 

The Premium Lounge and air-conditioned Executive Lounges at the railway stations in India are the best option to wait to board.

Arriving in Mumbai 

There are multiple railway stations in Mumbai including Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) and Lokmanya Tilak Terminus Railway Station (LTT).  

The Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT), formerly known as Victoria Terminus, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in the heart of Mumbai.  It is a major railway station with 18 platforms, though the station is only 5km from Colaba. 

Lokmanya Tilak Terminus Railway Station (LTT) is a major railway terminus in the Kurla suburb of Mumbai about 30km from Colaba. 

Buying tickets for Indian Railways train travel in India

There are several options for you to book and buy tickets for the trains in India independently:

With the IRCTC website you really need to have an Indian phone number to log in which is tricky from overseas.  The easiest option is with 12GOAsia. 

Things to know before riding the (any) trains in India

The first thing before traveling and arriving at the station in Kolkata is to check you eTicket and find these details:

Arriving at the station in Kolkata to board your train (or any train in India), look for the large electronic board with the scheduled departure times, expected arrival/departure times and the platform numbers. 

Even late at night Howrah Junction (HWH) railway station in Kolkata is overwhelmingly busy with people – walking, sitting, begging and sleeping – everywhere.

Boarding the train at Howrah or Kolkata to Mumbai 

You can confirm the platform number by using your train name or number from your ticket as well as the large electronic departure board in the station. 

There are small electronic signs above the platform that display the next arriving train number as well as the carriage number that pulls in directly in that space.  

These are the small, hanging digital boards that display the next arriving train number and carriage number for that spot on the platform.
A different train but you can see the corresponding carriage number is displayed on the train carriage and digital sign above the platform. 

Are meals included with the train ticket price for the Mumbai Mail? 

No, meals are not included in the ticket price for the Mumbai Mail.  For some trains in India the ticket price includes meals for First Class (1A), however meals are available for purchase throughout the journey. 

India Railway staff will come through the carriages before mealtimes and the evening before to take orders for breakfast, lunch and dinner.  The meals are typically a vegetarian Thali and include rice, roti, daal, vegetable curry, paneer and some type of small sweet for dessert. 

Otherwise there are snacks, drinks and water available for purchase from staff coming through the carriages regularly. 

A vegetarian Thali plus roti wrapped up for lunch on board the Mumbai Mail.
Chai, coffee, soup and hot water keep coming through the carriages regularly.
A morning chai is pretty exciting watching the world whizz by though not as endearing without the clay chai cups of Kolkata!

Does the train stop for long in the stations on the route? 

The train does stop at certain stations for 2 – 10 minutes.  

If you are keen you can ask staff to alert you for a longer station stop.  Or you can check the train timetable and schedule on the IXIGO App. 

For some of the longer stops you might have time to jump off and buy something from the station, though obviously don’t go far or risk missing the train! 

Buy snacks before you travel. Lots of snacks!

What are the toilets like on board? 

Without fluffing around, the toilets on the trains in India are basic.  

Though if you are traveling in AC First or Second Class (1A, 2A) including on the Mumbai Mail there is the option of a Western toilet or squat toilet in each carriage.  

The other classes (3A and SL) don’t always have a Western style toilet.  However, there are usually two options of a squat toilet in between the carriages so you can pick and choose the best of the situation in the moment…

Have more time in India? 

Here are some itinerary ideas and inspiration for planning an epic trip in India. 

Where to stay in Kolkata and Mumbai 

Between the two cities each with over 20 million people, finding a place to stay can be both easy and extremely difficult.  Kolkata is not well regarded for the quality of accommodation available by international standards.  And Mumbai is seriously spread out with budget areas and equally budget accommodation unless you are staying at the world-famous Taj Hotel. 

However, here are some places we have stayed in and accommodation in Kolkata and Mumbai that we can recommend.

Enjoy both Kolkata and Mumbai!

More about travel planning for India and beyond

These are the companies we use while traveling fulltime and can recommend to anyone planning and booking travel. 

Read more from travel in India and South Asia

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