NE RAILWAY BUREAU
CHENNAI, AUG. 7
For millions of Keralites living away from home, this Onam comes with a welcome gift on rails. In one of the biggest festive travel initiatives in recent years, Indian Railways has notified 112 Onam Special Train trips—more than double last year’s operations—ensuring that families separated by work, education and business can return home to celebrate Kerala’s grand harvest festival with greater ease and comfort.
- Southern Railway announces 54 services, while other Zonal Railways add 58 more, taking the total to 112 notified trips
- Special trains to operate during the peak festive season from August 14 to September 6
- Train operations witness a spectacular 103% jump over Onam 2025, reflecting unprecedented travel demand
- Dedicated services connect Chennai, Bengaluru, Mysuru, Hyderabad, Cherlapalli, Hubballi, Santragachi and other major cities with Kerala
- Railways to monitor passenger demand continuously and introduce additional services wherever required
- Massive coordinated effort aims to reunite families and make Onam travel smoother, faster and more comfortable
Recognising the enormous seasonal rush, Southern Railway, working in close coordination with South Central Railway, South Western Railway and South Eastern Railway, has announced an extensive network of special services and enhanced operations between August 14 and September 6, 2026, to clear waiting lists and facilitate hassle-free travel during the festive season.
Of the 112 notified trips, Southern Railway will operate 54 services, comprising 38 intra-railway and 16 inter-railway special trips, while neighbouring railway zones will contribute another 58 services, creating one of the largest coordinated Onam travel operations in recent years.
The scale of this year’s operations marks a dramatic leap from 55 notified trips during Onam 2025 to 112 trips in 2026, representing an impressive 103 per cent increase. The expansion has been driven by meticulous planning by Southern Railway and extensive collaboration with neighbouring railway zones to meet surging passenger demand.
The special trains will connect Kerala with major metropolitan centres and employment hubs across the country, including Chennai, Tambaram, Chennai Egmore, Mangaluru, Bengaluru, Mysuru, Hubballi, Hyderabad, Cherlapalli and Santragachi, offering seamless travel to destinations such as Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Ernakulam, Kottayam, Kannur and Mangaluru.
Southern Railway said the services have been strategically planned to cater to thousands of non-resident Keralites, students, professionals and tourists travelling home for the State’s most celebrated festival. The trains will pass through important junctions including Arakkonam, Jolarpettai, Erode, Podanur, Palakkad, Thrissur, Ernakulam, Kottayam, Shoranur, Kozhikode, Renigunta, Gudur, Vijayawada and several other key stations.
Reaffirming its commitment to passenger convenience during the festive rush, Indian Railways stated that 112 special train trips have been notified so far and that passenger demand and waiting-list trends will continue to be monitored closely. Additional special trains will be introduced wherever necessary to ensure smooth and comfortable travel during the Onam season.
