A key Southern Railway service connecting Kanyakumari and Mangaluru has emerged as India’s most heavily crowded train, highlighting intense passenger demand on Kerala-linked rail routes.
The Indian Railways network has recorded unusually high passenger demand on several southern routes, with the Kanyakumari–Mangaluru Parasuram Express emerging as the most crowded train in the country.
The train has reported an occupancy of 267.67%, indicating extreme overbooking pressure, with multiple passengers often travelling per reserved seat.
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Kerala dominates top occupancy rankings
Data shows that eight of India’s top 10 highest-occupancy trains operate through Kerala, reflecting sustained demand on key southern corridors.
Many of these services are operated by the Southern Railway zone, including long-distance and inter-state routes connecting Kerala with northern and western parts of India.
Key trains seeing high demand
Among the most crowded services are:
- Kanyakumari–Mangaluru Parasuram Express
- Thiruvananthapuram–New Delhi Kerala Express
- Kanyakumari–Katra Himsagar Express
- Ernakulam–Okha Express
- Gandhidham–Nagercoil Express
These routes highlight strong passenger movement between Kerala and major cities across India.
Vande Bharat services also report high occupancy
Kerala also features prominently in high-demand semi-high-speed services under the Vande Bharat Express network.
The Thiruvananthapuram–Mangaluru Vande Bharat Express leads national rankings with an occupancy of 187.78%, followed by several other Kerala-linked routes that consistently appear in the top 10.
What the data indicates
The occupancy trends point to:
- Heavy migration and travel demand from Kerala
- Strong dependence on rail connectivity for long-distance travel
- Capacity pressure on key Southern Railway corridors
- Growing popularity of both conventional and semi-high-speed trains
The latest figures highlight how certain southern rail routes, especially those linked to Kerala, are operating under extreme demand pressure. With both traditional express trains and Vande Bharat services showing high occupancy, the need for capacity expansion on these routes is increasingly evident.
Published: 15 Apr 2026, 09:04 pm IST
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