Southern Railway has announced two Pooja Festival Special Express trains between Shalimar and Chennai Beach to facilitate passenger travel during the festival season. The services will operate under train numbers 02841 and 02842, connecting Shalimar and Chennai Beach in both directions.

Train No. 02841 – Shalimar–Chennai Beach Express Special will operate on 15 and 22 October 2026 (Thursdays). The train will travel from Shalimar to Chennai Beach, with arrival scheduled on the third day. The services will stop at Santragachi, Kharagpur, Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur Keonjhar Road, Narasinghpur, Bhubaneswar, Khurda Road, Brahmapur, Palasa, Srikakulam Road, Vizianagaram, Duvvada, Rajahmundry, Vijayawada and Gudur.

Train No. 02842 – Chennai Beach–Shalimar Express Special will operate on 17 and 24 October 2026 (Saturdays). The train will travel from Chennai Beach to Shalimar, with arrival scheduled for the following day. It will serve the same intermediate stations in the return direction: Gudur, Vijayawada, Rajahmundry, Duvvada, Vizianagaram, Srikakulam Road, Palasa, Brahmapur, Khurda Road, Bhubaneswar, Narasinghpur, Jajpur Keonjhar Road, Bhadrak, Balasore, Kharagpur and Santragachi.

Both special trains will have a total of 22 coaches, comprising two AC two-tier coaches, seven AC three-tier coaches, seven sleeper-class coaches, four general second-class coaches, one Divyangjan-friendly second-class coach and one luggage-cum-brake van.

Advance booking for both special trains will open on 10 October 2026, as announced in the posters, through the Southern Railway booking arrangements.

Passengers are requested to visit the Indian Railways website (www.enquiry.indianrail.gov.in), dial 139, or download the NTES app for detailed arrival and departure timings at the respective stations.

Source - SR & RSB