Thiruvananthapuram/Kochi: To clear the extra rush of passengers during the Christmas season, South Western Railway has announced a pair of special express trains between SMVT Bengaluru and Thiruvananthapuram North.

Train No. 06571 SMVT Bengaluru–Thiruvananthapuram North Express Special will depart SMVT Bengaluru at 3.00 pm on December 20, Saturday and reach Thiruvananthapuram North at 6.30 am the next day. This will be a single service.

In the return direction, Train No 06572 Thiruvananthapuram North–SMVT Bengaluru Express Special will leave Thiruvananthapuram North at 9.30 am on December 21, Sunday and arrive at SMVT Bengaluru at 3.30 am the following day, also operating as a single service.

The special train will have a total of 22 coaches, including one AC First Class coach, one AC Two Tier coach, five AC Three Tier coaches, seven Sleeper Class coaches, six general Second Class coaches and two Divyangjan-friendly Second Class coaches.

The train will stop at Krishnarajapuram, Bangarapet, Salem, Erode, Tiruppur, Podanur, Palakkad, Thrissur, Aluva, Ernakulam Town, Kottayam, Changanassery, Tiruvalla, Chengannur, Mavelikara, Kayankulam, Kollam and Varkala Sivagiri en route.

Advance reservation for the Christmas special trains is now open, according to Southern Railway.