Thiruvananthapuram: In a major boost to Kerala’s railway infrastructure and passenger convenience, Southern Railway has approved the permanent augmentation of several key train services operating within the state. The decision, which will come into effect in phases from May 20 to 22, 2025, is aimed at easing congestion, improving accessibility and addressing long-standing demands for better travel facilities, especially on heavily relied-upon regional routes.

The augmented trains include express and passenger services linking important hubs such as Kottayam, Nilambur, Nagercoil, Kollam, Alappuzha and Thiruvananthapuram.

Among the most major upgrades is the Kottayam–Nilambur Road Express (Train No. 16326/16325), which will now run with 14 coaches instead of 12—an issue that had been repeatedly flagged by passengers and formally taken up by MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra during a recent high-level meeting with railway officials at Wandoor in Malappuram.

The key augmentations announced are as follows

Train No. 16366 – Nagercoil–Kottayam Express

  • New composition: 14 coaches – 11 general second class, 1 second class chair car and 2 divyangjan-friendly second class coaches
  • Effective date: May 20, 2025

Train No. 16326/16325 – Kottayam–Nilambur Road Express

  • New composition: 14 coaches – including the addition of one general coach and one non-AC chair car
  • Effective date: May 21, 2025

Train No. 56311 – Kottayam–Kollam Passenger

  • New composition: 12 coaches – 10 general second class and 2 divyangjan-friendly second class coaches
  • Effective date: May 22, 2025

Train No. 56302/56301 – Kollam–Alappuzha–Kollam Passenger

  • Coach augmentation effective from May 22, 2025

Train No. 56307/56308 – Thiruvananthapuram Central–Nagercoil Passenger

  • New composition: 14 coaches – 11 general second class, 1 chair car and 2 divyangjan-friendly second class coaches
  • Effective date: May 22, 2025