Palakkad/Kannur: Addressing a long-standing demand from commuters, a special unreserved Express train will start operating temporarily between Kozhikode and Palakkad from Monday, June 23. This move is expected to provide much-needed relief to passengers who have faced difficulties due to the lack of daytime train services on the route.

The train will depart from Kozhikode at 10:10 am and reach Palakkad by 1:05 pm. After a brief halt, the return journey will begin at 1:50 pm. The service will operate daily, except on Saturdays when it will run only up to Shoranur.

The Railway is expected to continue the service until September 15, effectively filling the daytime gap between 11:30 am and 4:00 pm, an interval during which no direct trains operated between Palakkad and Kozhikode, a long-standing concern among regular passengers.

The train will stop at key stations along the route, including Feroke, Parappanangadi, Tanur, Tirur, Kuttippuram, Pattambi, Shoranur and Ottapalam. It will run under four designated train numbers and consist of 18 coaches.

In related developments, railway authorities are also considering extending the Ernakulam-Shoranur MEMU train up to Nilambur as a special evening service.