Chennai: With Gandhi Jayanthi falling on Friday and a long weekend expected to draw large crowds to railway stations, Southern Railway has announced a series of special trains connecting Chennai with destinations across Tamil Nadu and neighbouring Kerala.
The additional services are aimed at handling the expected surge in passengers travelling to their hometowns during the holiday period. Several regular trains have already seen heavy demand, prompting the railway to introduce extra services on key routes.
Among the important services is the Tambaram-Tenkasi special train (06123), which will leave Tambaram at 11.55 p.m. on October 1 and reach Tenkasi at 12.15 p.m. the following day. The return service, 06124, will leave Sengottai at 5.40 p.m. on October 4 and reach Tambaram at 4.30 a.m. the next day.
The Tenkasi bound service will stop at several stations, including Chengalpattu, Villupuram, Vriddhachalam, Tiruchirappalli, Dindigul, Madurai, Virudhunagar, Sivakasi, Srivilliputhur, Rajapalayam, Sankarankovil and Kadayanallur.
Another special service will connect Dr MGR Chennai Central with Podanur. Train 06023 will depart Chennai Central at 11.55 p.m. on October 1 and arrive at Podanur at 9.15 a.m. on October 2. Its return service, 06024, will leave Podanur at 6.15 p.m. on October 4 and reach Chennai Beach at 4 a.m. on October 5.
For passengers heading towards the southern districts, an unreserved MEMU special will run between Tambaram and Manamadurai. Train 06159 will leave Tambaram at 4.30 p.m. on October 1 and reach Manamadurai at 1.20 a.m. on October 2. The return train, 06160, will leave Manamadurai at 2.45 p.m. on October 4 and arrive at Tambaram at 11.45 p.m.
Southern Railway has also scheduled special services between Chennai Egmore and Ernakulam, while a Tirunelveli Tambaram special service will operate on October 4. The Ernakulam Egmore train will leave Ernakulam at 11.10 p.m. on October 4, with the return service departing Egmore at 2.30 p.m. on October 5.
Booking for the announced special trains opened at 8 a.m. on October 1. Passengers have been advised to check their train number, departure time and boarding station carefully before travelling, particularly because some services have different starting and terminating stations.
With Gandhi Jayanthi coinciding with the weekend and school holidays adding to travel demand, the special services are expected to provide additional capacity on some of the busiest routes during the holiday rush.
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