Special trains to Tambaram via Kollam — Sengottai line

Thiruvananthapuram: Southern Railway has started to experiment with a new route between Thiruvananthapuram and Chennai for the festive season. Weekly special trains have been introduced between Kochuveli and Tambaram stations via Kollam, Punalur, and Sengottai to clear the rush during the Vinayaka Chaturthi and Onam season.
Four special trains — No. 06036/06035 and 06153/06154 — will operate till Sept 23.The trains will run between the satellite terminals of both Thiruvananthapuram and Chennai, since the main railway stations will be congested during the festive season.
The rail passengers' associations and regular travellers have been demanding that the railways operate regular express trains on the route since the Punalur-Sengottai line was converted to broad gauge and has now been electrified. It is also an alternative route in addition to the ones via Palghat and Nagercoil.
Railways had tried similar special trains for the first time during the summer vacation this year but discontinued them because the Tambaram yard was being expanded. Passenger associations are now demanding that railways should regularise Tambaram to Kochuveli specials via Sengottai and Punalur. Passengers said that due to heavy rush, it is usually difficult to reserve seats in trains that run via Palghat and Nagercoil.
Kollam-Sengottai Railway Passengers Association secretary Dipu Ravi said railways should convert special trains into regular service as it is difficult to get confirmed tickets to travel between major cities in Tamil Nadu and Kerala. It will be beneficial for several passengers if the train is made into a daily or weekly service, he added.
The special trains have 14 AC III-tier economy coaches. More coaches can be added once the platforms on the Sengottai-Kollam route are extended.
With the special trains the travel time between Kollam and Chennai will be reduced to 14 and a half hours, because the trains run at a better speed on the Tambaram-Tenkasi route.
The Punalur-Sengottai ghat route, one of the oldest routes connecting Kollam with Chennai, was commissioned in 1903. It was converted to broad gauge in 2018.