Puja travel rush: 102 special train trips announced, Kerala routes get extra services

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Indian Railways will operate 102 festival-special train trips to accommodate the additional passenger rush during the Dussehra and Puja holidays. The services announced through the Solapur Division will connect major destinations, including Mumbai, Chennai, Latur, Kolhapur and Kalaburagi. Separately, additional special trains will operate on routes connecting Kerala with other parts of the country.

A special train from Dr MGR Chennai Central to Kollam will depart at 11:50 pm on October 19 and arrive at its destination at 4:30 pm the following day. The return service will leave Kollam at 6:45 pm on October 20 and reach Chennai at 11:35 am on October 21.

Another special train will depart Bengaluru Cantonment at 4:40 pm on October 16 and arrive at Thiruvananthapuram North at 10:30 am the following day. Its return service will leave Thiruvananthapuram North at 12:40 pm on October 17 and reach Bengaluru at 6 am on October 18. A separate service from Santragachi in West Bengal will depart at 2:15 pm on October 18 and arrive at Thiruvananthapuram North at 9:55 am on October 20.

The Thiruvananthapuram Central–Madar Junction Festival Special Express will operate on Wednesdays from October 21 to November 25. The train will depart Thiruvananthapuram Central at 7:45 am and arrive at Madar Junction at 11 am on Friday. The return service will operate on Saturdays from October 24 to November 28, departing Madar Junction at 9:40 pm and reaching Thiruvananthapuram Central at 12:45 am on Tuesday.

The Ernakulam Junction–Patna Junction Express will operate on Fridays from October 2 to 30. It will depart Ernakulam Junction at 9:30 pm and arrive at Patna Junction at 3:30 am on Monday. The return service will operate on Tuesdays from October 6 to November 3, departing Patna Junction at 12:10 am and arriving at Ernakulam Junction at 10:45 am on Thursday.

Last year, 93 special train services were operated.