The Deccan Queen Express is one of the most loved trains in India, running daily between Mumbai CSMT and Pune since 1930. Famous for its punctuality and for being the only train in the country with a proper dining car, it remains the first choice for many travelers on this route. This guide covers timings, route, classes, fare and booking, alongside the story that makes it special.
🚆 Quick Information
| Train numbers | 12123 (Pune to CSMT), 12124 (CSMT to Pune) |
| Route | Mumbai CSMT ↔ Pune Junction |
| Distance | About 192 km |
| Journey time | Around 3 hours 15 minutes |
| Runs | Daily |
| Introduced | 1 June 1930 |
| Operated by | Central Railway |
| Coaches | LHB, since June 2022 |
Deccan Queen Timings
| Train | From | Departs | To | Arrives |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12123 | Pune Junction | Around 7:15 AM | Mumbai CSMT | Around 10:25 AM |
| 12124 | Mumbai CSMT | Around 5:10 PM | Pune Junction | Around 8:25 PM |
The timings suit the traditional pattern of the train, bringing people into Mumbai for the working day and taking them back to Pune in the evening.
Confirm before you travel. Timings change with timetable revisions and during engineering blocks, and the Bhor Ghat section is prone to monsoon disruption. Check the current schedule on live running status or the National Train Enquiry System.
Route and Stops
The Deccan Queen makes few stops, which is part of how it keeps its timing.
| Mumbai CSMT | Terminus |
| Dadar | Mumbai suburban interchange |
| Thane | |
| Kalyan Junction | |
| Lonavala | Hill station, top of the ghat |
| Shivajinagar | Pune city |
| Pune Junction | Terminus |
The Bhor Ghat Section
Between Karjat and Lonavala the line climbs the Bhor Ghat, one of the most scenic stretches on the Indian rail network. The train winds up through the Sahyadri hills past waterfalls and deep valleys, and in the monsoon the whole section turns green with water running off the rock faces.
It is also the most vulnerable part of the route. Landslides and boulder falls during heavy rain can disrupt services here, so check running status during the monsoon months.
Classes and Coaches
The Deccan Queen received LHB coaches in June 2022, on its 92nd anniversary, replacing the older ICF rake. LHB coaches offer better ride quality, improved safety in the event of a collision, and a smoother journey overall.
| AC Chair Car (CC) | Air-conditioned seating |
| Second Class Chair Car (2S) | Non-AC seating, the cheaper option |
| Dining car | A dedicated restaurant coach, unique to this train |
The train also carries a distinctive livery, redesigned as part of the LHB upgrade with input from the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad, following a public consultation in which passengers voted on the options. The new logo incorporates an image of the UNESCO-listed CSMT building.
The Dining Car
This is what sets the Deccan Queen apart from every other train in India. It carries a genuine restaurant coach where you sit at a table and are served, rather than having food brought to your seat.
The dining car seats around 32 passengers, with table service and a modern pantry behind it. Passengers can walk through and eat there during the journey, which on a three-hour run through the ghats is an experience in itself.
No other train on the Indian network still offers this.
Fare and Booking
The Deccan Queen is a reserved train, so a ticket must be booked in advance.
- Book through IRCTC online or at a reservation counter.
- The advance reservation period is 60 days.
- Fares are modest for the distance, with Second Class Chair Car considerably cheaper than AC Chair Car.
- Catering charges may be included or separate depending on the class and current arrangement.
Check the exact fare on IRCTC, since it varies by class and is revised periodically. See our train fare guide for how fares are calculated.
Book early. This is a popular commuter train with a loyal following, and seats on both legs fill well ahead, particularly on Fridays and Sundays when weekend travel between the two cities peaks.
A Train of Firsts
The Deccan Queen was introduced on 1 June 1930 by the Great Indian Peninsula Railway, the forerunner of Central Railway. It was named after Pune, known as the Queen of the Deccan, or Dakkhan ki Rani.
It holds a remarkable list of firsts on Indian Railways:
- The first deluxe train in India.
- The first vestibuled train, allowing passengers to walk between coaches.
- The first train with a ladies-only coach.
- The first long-distance electric hauled train.
- The first train with a dining car.
- Among the first services to be classed as superfast.
How the Train Evolved
| 1930 | Introduced with two rakes of seven coaches, one painted silver with scarlet mouldings, the other royal blue with gold lines. Underframes built in England, bodies at Matunga Workshop. |
| 1966 | Replaced with steel-bodied integral coaches from the Integral Coach Factory, Perambur, and expanded to 12 coaches. |
| 1995 | Rake upgraded with air brake coaches, AC chair cars introduced, and the dining car modernised. |
| 2022 | LHB coaches introduced on the 92nd anniversary, with a new livery and logo designed with NID. |
Why It Still Matters
Mumbai and Pune are now connected by expressway, by frequent buses and by other trains. Yet the Deccan Queen retains a following that none of them command.
Part of it is the punctuality. The train built its reputation on right-time departure and right-time arrival, and generations of commuters have set their day by it. Part of it is the dining car. And part of it is simply that a train running the same route since 1930 accumulates a kind of loyalty that a bus service never will.
Frequently Asked Questions
✅ What is the Deccan Queen train number?
12123 from Pune to Mumbai CSMT, and 12124 from CSMT to Pune.
✅ What are the Deccan Queen timings?
Around 7:15 AM from Pune, reaching CSMT about 10:25 AM. Return departure is around 5:10 PM from CSMT, reaching Pune about 8:25 PM. Confirm before travelling.
✅ How long does the journey take?
About 3 hours 15 minutes over 192 km.
✅ Does the Deccan Queen have a dining car?
Yes, and it is the only train in India that still has one. It seats around 32 passengers with proper table service.
✅ Does it have LHB coaches?
Yes. The train was upgraded to LHB coaches in June 2022, on its 92nd anniversary, with a redesigned livery and logo.
✅ What classes are available?
AC Chair Car and Second Class Chair Car, along with the dining car.
✅ How old is the Deccan Queen?
It was introduced on 1 June 1930, making it more than 95 years old and one of the oldest continuously running named trains in India.
✅ Which stations does it stop at?
Mumbai CSMT, Dadar, Thane, Kalyan, Lonavala, Shivajinagar and Pune Junction.
Quick Summary
| Train | Deccan Queen Express, 12123 and 12124 |
| Route | Mumbai CSMT to Pune Junction |
| Distance | 192 km |
| Time | About 3 hours 15 minutes |
| Introduced | 1 June 1930 |
| Coaches | LHB since 2022 |
| Unique feature | The only dining car on Indian Railways |
| Scenic section | Bhor Ghat, between Karjat and Lonavala |
If you are travelling between Mumbai and Pune and can fit the timings, the Deccan Queen is worth choosing over the alternatives, if only to eat in the dining car while the train climbs the ghats. Book early, since it fills fast. For more, see our guides on the Vande Bharat Express, Shatabdi Express and live train running status.
Have you travelled on the Deccan Queen? Tell us in the comments whether you ate in the dining car, since readers often ask what it is like.