In a significant move to enhance rail connectivity and efficiency, Southern Railway is all set to roll out a comprehensive new timetable for its southern zone starting January 1. This major revision, the result of a year-long planning exercise, focuses on improving train timings and boosting the speed of numerous Mail and Express services.
Core Highlights of the Revised Schedule
The cornerstone of the new timetable is the introduction of eight brand-new train services. Prominent among these are the Tambaram–Rameswaram Daily Express and the much-anticipated KSR Bengaluru–Ernakulam Vande Bharat Express. Beyond new launches, the schedule brings changes to the operating days for eight existing trains and reassigns train numbers for 44 Express, Superfast, and Passenger services.
Passengers are set to benefit from markedly quicker journeys. Southern Railway has successfully accelerated 65 Mail, Express, and Superfast trains, along with 14 passenger trains. Some of the most notable time savings include the Kollam–Tambaram service, which becomes faster by a substantial 85 minutes, and the Mata Vaishno Devi Katra–Kanyakumari service, cutting 65 minutes off its travel time. Services connecting to Madurai, such as the Madurai–Hazrat Nizamuddin, Bikaner–Madurai, and Lokmanya Tilak Terminus–Madurai routes, have also been expedited.
Boosting Regional Connectivity and Capacity
The improvements extend deeply into regional and local travel. Local passenger services are receiving sharper time cuts, with the Tirunelveli–Sengottai route sped up by 35 minutes and the Madurai–Bodinayakkanur service by 20 minutes. To improve accessibility, experimental stoppages have been sanctioned for 102 Express trains at various stations across the zone.
Permanent capacity enhancements are also part of the upgrade. The Madurai–Bengaluru Vande Bharat Express was earlier augmented to 16 coaches. Furthermore, to handle rising demand, additional general second-class coaches have been provided for passenger services on the Madurai–Sengottai and Sengottai–Tirunelveli routes.
Regional connectivity gets a boost through strategic extensions and stoppages. The Thiruvananthapuram–Madurai Amritha Express has been extended up to Rameswaram, catering better to pilgrims and tourists. New experimental halts have been introduced at stations like Kodaikanal Road for the Kanyakumari–Howrah Express, and at Vadipatti, Aralvaimozhi, and Nanguneri for select regional express services.
Safety, Comfort, and Infrastructure Upgrades
This timetable revision follows extensive maintenance, infrastructure upgrades, and track improvement work over the past year, all aimed at enabling faster and safer travel. Southern Railway has also completed the conversion of several regional rakes to modern LHB coaches, including those for the Coimbatore–Rameswaram and Tirunelveli–Purulia services. This upgrade within the Madurai division promises improved safety and passenger comfort.
Railway officials have emphasized that detailed inspections and trials were conducted to ensure all safety standards were met before permitting higher speeds. Train crews have undergone specific training, and operational protocols have been updated to seamlessly support the new, faster schedules.
The implementation of this new timetable from New Year's Day represents Southern Railway's commitment to offering a more efficient, comfortable, and connected travel experience for millions of passengers across South India.
