Onam rush: Chennai-Kollam special trains from today; Egmore-Mangaluru service announced

Chennai: To ease the rush during the Onam season, special trains will operate from Chennai to Kollam from Wednesday.

The Chennai Central-Kollam special train (06119) will depart Chennai at 3.10 pm on August 12, 19 and 26, and September 2. It will reach Kollam at 7.20 am the following day. The train will have 16 AC three-tier economy coaches, with no sleeper or general coaches.

Another Chennai Central-Kollam special train (06117) will depart at 11.50 pm on August 13, 15, 20, 22, 27 and 29, and September 3 and 5. It will reach Kollam at 4.20 pm the following day.

This train will have one first AC-cum-two-tier coach, two two-tier AC coaches, four AC three-tier coaches and 13 sleeper coaches.

Egmore-Mangaluru special train

A special train (06125) will operate from Chennai Egmore to Mangaluru on August 18 and 25, and September 1.

The train will have one second AC coach, eight AC three-tier coaches, six sleeper coaches and four general coaches.

More special trains will also operate between Kerala and Hyderabad, Mysuru, Mangaluru and other destinations in August and September.

Bengaluru–Kerala services extended

The following services between SMVT Bengaluru and Thiruvananthapuram North have been extended into September:

• 06523 SMVT Bengaluru–Thiruvananthapuram North: Mondays, September 7, 14, 21 and 28.
• 06524 Thiruvananthapuram North–SMVT Bengaluru: Tuesdays, September 8, 15, 22 and 29.
• 06547 SMVT Bengaluru–Thiruvananthapuram North: Wednesdays, September 2, 9, 16 and 23.
• 06548 Thiruvananthapuram North–SMVT Bengaluru: Thursdays, September 3, 10, 17 and 24.
• 06555 SMVT Bengaluru–Thiruvananthapuram North: Fridays, September 4, 11, 18 and 25.
• 06556 Thiruvananthapuram North–SMVT Bengaluru: Sundays, September 6, 13, 20 and 27.

The Hubballi–Kollam special will also continue. Train 07313 will run on Sundays from September 6 to 27, while 07314 Kollam–Hubballi will operate on Mondays from September 7 to 28.

More special trains from Hyderabad

Passengers travelling between Hyderabad and Kerala will have additional options in August and September.

Train 07193 Hyderabad–Kollam will operate on Saturdays from August 15 to September 5, while 07194 Kollam–Hyderabad will run on Mondays from August 17 to September 7. The Hyderabad–Kollam service will pass through Secunderabad, Miryalaguda, Guntur, Tenali, Gudur, Renigunta, Chittoor, Katpadi, Jolarpettai, Erode, Podanur, Shoranur, Ernakulam and Kottayam.

Another service, 07195 Charlapalli–Kollam, will run on Fridays from August 14 to September 4. Its return service, 07196 Kollam–Charlapalli, will operate on Saturdays from August 15 to September 5.

Other Kerala-bound specials

Railways has also announced additional services on several other routes:

• 07097 Hyderabad–Mangaluru Central: Wednesdays, August 19 to September 2.
• 07098 Mangaluru Central–Hyderabad: Thursdays, August 20 to September 3.
• 07351 Hubballi–Kottayam: August 25.
• 07352 Kottayam–Hubballi: August 26.
• 07353 Hubballi–Kottayam: August 29.
• 07354 Kottayam–Hubballi: August 30.

The Mysuru–Kannur route will also get four one-trip special services. Train 06227 will run from Mysuru Junction to Kannur on August 25, followed by 06228 Kannur–Bengaluru Cantonment on August 26. Another Mysuru–Kannur service, 06229, will operate on August 29, with 06230 Kannur–Bengaluru Cantonment running on August 30.

The additional services are aimed at meeting the increased demand for travel to and from Kerala during the Onam season.