Chennai: The Southern Railway has announced a series of Diwali special trains connecting Kerala with major cities, including Chennai, Bengaluru, and Mangaluru, to meet the festive rush.

The special services include the Thiruvananthapuram North–Chennai Egmore–Thiruvananthapuram North (06108/06107) route, two trains between SMVT Bengaluru and Kollam, and one between Mangaluru Central and Chennai Central via Shoranur and Palakkad.

Bengaluru–Kollam services

  • Train 06567 SMVT Bengaluru–Kollam Special Express will depart from SMVT Bengaluru at 11 pm on October 21, reaching Kollam at 12.55 pm the next day.
  • Train 06568 Kollam–Bengaluru Cantonment Special Express will leave Kollam at 5 pm on October 22, arriving at Bengaluru Cantonment at 9.45 am the following day.

Another pair of services, 06561 and 06562, the SMVT Bengaluru- Kollam Special Express will operate earlier in the week.

  • Train 06561 will depart from SMVT Bengaluru at 3 p.m. on October 16 and reach Kollam at 6.20 a.m. the next day.
  • The return service 06562 will leave Kollam at 10.45 a.m. on October 17, arriving in Bengaluru at 3.30 a.m. the next day.

All Bengaluru–Kollam trains will stop at Palakkad, Thrissur, Aluva, Ernakulam Town, Kottayam, Changanassery, Thiruvalla, Chengannur, Mavelikkara, and Kayamkulam stations. Reservations open from 8 am on October 13.

Thiruvananthapuram–Chennai Egmore Service

  • Train 06108 Thiruvananthapuram North–Chennai Egmore Special Express will depart at 5.10 pm on October 21 and reach Chennai Egmore at 11 am the next day.
  • The return train, 06107 Chennai Egmore–Thiruvananthapuram North, will leave Chennai at 1.25 pm on October 22 and arrive in Thiruvananthapuram at 8 am the following day.

The service will halt at Varkala, Kollam, Kayamkulam, Mavelikkara, Chengannur, Thiruvalla, Changanassery, Kottayam, Ernakulam Town, Aluva, Thrissur, and Palakkad.

Mangaluru–Chennai Special

Train 06002 Mangaluru Central–Chennai Central Special Express will depart Mangaluru Central at 4.35 pm on October 21 and reach Chennai Central at 10.15 am the next day.

It will stop at Kasaragod, Kannur, Thalassery, Mahe, Kozhikode, Tirur, Shoranur, and Palakkad.