In a significant boost for rail connectivity from South Kerala, Indian Railways has announced a major reduction in the travel time of the Kollam–Chennai Express. The service, which operates via the scenic Punalur and Sengkottai route, will now be 1 hour and 25 minutes faster, effectively making it the quickest train link to Chennai from the state's southern districts.
A Faster Arrival in the Capital
The revised schedule, effective from January 1, will see the train reaching its destination much earlier. Previously arriving at Tambaram at 7:30 AM, the express will now pull into the station by 6:05 AM. It's important to note that the train currently terminates at Tambaram instead of Chennai Egmore due to ongoing redevelopment work at the latter station.
This timing adjustment positions the Kollam–Chennai Express as a faster alternative compared to other services that run via the Palakkad route or originate from Thiruvananthapuram and Nagercoil. The time-saving is expected to be a major relief for daily commuters, business travelers, and families.
Growing Popularity and Passenger Advocacy
The train's popularity has been on a steady rise, especially after its departure time from Kollam was rescheduled from noon to a more convenient 4:00 PM a few months ago. This change addressed a long-standing demand from passenger associations.
"Passenger organisations continuously tried through their representatives to change the schedule of the train, which was inconvenient for passengers," said Dipu Ravi of the Kollam-Sengottai Rail Passengers Association. He added, "After seven years, that effort was successful. Now, from Jan 1, the train will reach almost 1 hour and 25 minutes early in Chennai."
The improved timing has made it a preferred choice not only for residents of Kollam but also for those from neighboring districts, including the state capital, Thiruvananthapuram. Many passengers who are unable to secure tickets on the often-crowded trains via Palakkad now travel to Kollam specifically to board this service, which journeys through Punalur, Sengkottai, and Tenkasi.
Broader Schedule Rationalization
The Railways did not stop at optimizing just one service. In a coordinated effort to improve passenger convenience, the timings of other trains have also been adjusted. The schedule for the Guruvayur-Madurai Express and the Kollam MEMU departing from Punalur has been modified to better align with passenger needs and ensure smoother connectivity across the network.
This move by Southern Railway is a direct response to persistent feedback from rail user groups and is seen as a positive step towards making train travel more efficient and passenger-friendly for those connecting South Kerala to Tamil Nadu's capital.
