TVM-Palani train via Sengottai discontinued after just two trips

Passengers from south Kerala have been left frustrated after Indian Railways decided to discontinue the newly introduced Thiruvananthapuram–Podanur Express via Sengottai after operating only two services. The train, seen as a long-awaited direct link to Palani and Coimbatore, has been withdrawn almost immediately after its launch, triggering demands for restoration.

The special service, introduced on June 3, had generated considerable excitement among travellers from Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam and Pathanamthitta districts. It was the only direct train connecting south Kerala to Coimbatore through the Palani route via Sengottai, reviving a travel corridor that had been lost after the conversion of the old metre-gauge line.

However, the service has now been discontinued after just two runs, an unusual move given that special trains are often extended based on demand and, in many cases, eventually converted into permanent services.

Under the schedule announced by the Railways, the train departed from Kochuveli (Thiruvananthapuram North) every Wednesday at 1 pm, reaching Palani at 3.58 am on Thursday before arriving at Podanur (Pothanur) at 6.45 am. While passengers welcomed the move, many complained that the timings were inconvenient and unsuitable for most travellers.

Passenger groups have argued that the train would attract far greater passengers if it departed Thiruvananthapuram in the evening and reached Palani in the morning. They have urged railway authorities to revise the schedule instead of withdrawing the service altogether.

For devotees and regular travellers from south Kerala, the lack of direct connectivity to Palani remains a major concern. At present, the only available train option is the Amrita Express, which reaches Palani through the longer Palakkad route. Since the extension of the Amrita Express to Rameswaram, securing confirmed tickets has become increasingly difficult due to heavy demand.

Travellers believe the Thiruvananthapuram–Podanur Express could have eased this burden by offering an alternative route and improving access to Palani and Coimbatore.

Public representatives and railway passengers' associations have now approached railway authorities, urging them to continue the service with revised timings rather than allowing it to end after just two trips.