Southern Railway has announced special trains to clear the extra rush of passengers during the Puja festival in October 2026. The services will connect Chennai with Podanur, Sengottai and Kollam, along with a special service from Erode to Tirunelveli and a return service from Tirunelveli to Tambaram. Advance bookings for all the announced special trains are open.

Train Nos. 06023/06024 will operate between Dr. MGR Chennai Central and Podanur. Train No. 06023 will depart Chennai Central on October 16 and arrive at Podanur the following day. The return service, Train No. 06024, will leave Podanur on October 17 and reach Chennai Central the same day. Both trains will stop at Perambur, Tiruvallur, Arakkonam, Katpadi, Jolarpettai, Salem, Erode and Tiruppur. The trains will have 10 AC Three Tier coaches, six AC Three Tier Economy coaches and two luggage-cum-brake vans.

Another Chennai Central–Podanur service, Train Nos. 06033/06034, will operate with Train No. 06033 departing Chennai Central on October 18 and arriving at Podanur the following day. Train No. 06034 will leave Podanur on October 20 and reach Chennai Central the following day. The services will stop at the same stations as the other Chennai–Podanur specials and will have 10 AC Three Tier coaches, six AC Three Tier Economy coaches and two luggage-cum-brake vans.

Train Nos. 06089/06090 will connect Tambaram and Sengottai. Train No. 06089 will depart Tambaram on October 19 and arrive at Sengottai on October 20. The return service, Train No. 06090, will leave Sengottai on October 20 and reach Tambaram the following day. The trains will stop at Chengalpattu, Villupuram, Vriddhachalam, Ariyalur, Srirangam, Tiruchchirappalli, Dindigul, Madurai, Virudhunagar, Sivakasi, Srivilliputtur, Rajapalayam, Sankarankovil, Kadayanallur and Tenkasi. The coach composition will include eight Sleeper Class coaches, 11 General Second Class coaches and two Divyangjan-friendly Second Class coaches.

Train No. 06145 will run from Erode to Tirunelveli, departing Erode on October 16 and arriving at Tirunelveli the following day. Its return service, Train No. 06146, will depart Tirunelveli on October 20 and arrive at Tambaram the following day. The services will cover stations including Salem, Jolarpettai, Katpadi, Arakkonam, Tiruvallur, Perambur, Chennai Egmore, Tambaram, Chengalpattu, Villupuram, Vriddhachalam, Ariyalur, Srirangam, Tiruchchirappalli, Dindigul, Madurai, Virudhunagar, Sattur and Kovilpatti. The trains will have four AC Chair Car coaches, four Chair Car coaches, nine General Second Class coaches and two Divyangjan-friendly Second Class coaches.

Train Nos. 06083/06084 will operate between Dr. MGR Chennai Central and Kollam. Train No. 06083 will depart Chennai Central on October 19 and arrive at Kollam the following day. The return service, Train No. 06084, will leave Kollam on October 20 and reach Chennai Central the following day. The trains will stop at Perambur, Tiruvallur, Arakkonam, Katpadi, Jolarpettai, Salem, Erode, Tiruppur, Podanur, Palakkad, Thrissur, Aluva, Ernakulam, Kottayam, Changanassery, Tiruvalla, Chengannur, Mavelikara and Kayankulam. The coach composition will include two AC Two Tier coaches, five AC Three Tier coaches, 11 Sleeper Class coaches, four General Second Class coaches and two Divyangjan-friendly Second Class coaches.

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