Festive Rush: Malayalis call for special trains to Kerala for Christmas and New Year

Kannur: The festive season is in full swing, with train tickets for the Christmas week selling out rapidly, leaving many Malayalis struggling to find ways to return to Kerala.

As Christmas and New Year approaches, many who had rushed to book tickets for their trips home are now facing long waiting times. Various Malayali organizations are calling for the announcement of special trains to alleviate the crisis.

The situation is dire, especially for those hoping to travel on popular routes. The Yeshwanthpur-Kannur Express (16527) has no sleeper tickets available from December 20, and waiting lists on some days have crossed 173. Similarly, the Third AC class is fully booked. Some trains like the Bengaluru-Kannur train that passes through Mangaluru have a waiting list of 163. The Bengaluru-Ernakulam Express (12677) also has a waiting list of 114 to 228, while the Bengaluru-Kanyakumari Express (16526) has an even longer wait time of 298.

The ticket crunch extends beyond Kerala-bound trains, with many trains from other parts of India facing similar issues. Sleeper and Third AC tickets are sold out for the Netravati Express (16345) from Mumbai starting December 20, and the same is true for the Mangala Express (12618) from Delhi. The weekly Veraval-Thiruvananthapuram Express (16333) is also fully booked, along with several Chennai-bound trains. The Chennai-Mangalore Mail (12601) has a waiting list of 164, while the West Coast Express (22637) shows a waiting list of 67.

Passengers demand special train

Many Malayalis in Bengaluru have raised concerns about the current situation, drawing comparisons to the arrangements made during the recent Lok Sabha elections, when special trains were run to bring voters home. Bengaluru Malabar Travellers' Rights Protect Forum (BMTRPF) President Shinith has urged MPs and public representatives to take similar action during the festive season to help alleviate the travel crisis.

Bengaluru-Kozhikode train extension delayed

In another development, the Bengaluru-Kannur Express (16511/16512) was supposed to be extended to Kozhikode, with the Railway Board announcing the service from February 2. However, the order issued on January 23 has not been implemented yet, and the extended train has not yet reached Kozhikode. Despite the former Dakshina Kannada MP’s request to halt the extension, the Railway Board has cancelled the order, causing further disappointment for travellers.