Southern Railways (SR) has proposed operating special intra-railway trains to manage the extra passenger rush during the summer season.
The two proposed services are between Tuticorin and Mettupalayam, and between Podanur Junction and MGR Chennai Central Railway Station.
Tuticorin–Mettupalayam
Southern Railway has announced that the tentative departure time for the Tuticorin–Mettupalayam train is 6.15 a.m., with arrival at Mettupalayam scheduled for 2.30 p.m. The service will run on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, with stoppages at Virudhunagar Junction, Madurai Junction, Dindigul Junction, Pollachi Junction, Podanur Junction, and Coimbatore Junction.
The service from both Tuticorin and Mettupalayam will operate from April 7, 2026, to June 4, 2026, totalling 27 trips each.
Mettupalayam–Tuticorin
In the return direction, the Mettupalayam–Tuticorin train will depart at 7.45 a.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, and arrive at 3.30 p.m. on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. The train will have stoppages at Virudhunagar Junction, Madurai Junction, Dindigul Junction, Pollachi Junction, Podanur Junction, and Coimbatore Junction.
Rail Expansion
Coimbatore will be connected to the southern districts of Tuticorin and Tirunelveli through a total of six train services per week, including special summer operations.
A weekly special train (No. 06029) will run between Mettupalayam and Tirunelveli from April 5, 2026, to June 7, 2026, departing Mettupalayam at 19:45 and Coimbatore at 20:40, and reaching Madurai at 01:20 am, Tenkasi at 05:30 am, and Tirunelveli at 08:05 am.
For Tuticorin, in addition to the existing bi-weekly service (Train No. 16765) operating on Sundays and Fridays, departing Mettupalayam at 19:45 and Coimbatore at 20:30, and arriving at Madurai at 01:25 am and Tuticorin at 04:15 am, a tri-weekly summer special train will be introduced.
This special service, with train number yet to be announced, will run from April 7, 2026 to June 4, 2026 for a total of 27 trips on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, departing Mettupalayam at 19:45 and Coimbatore at 20:30, and arriving at Madurai at 01:25 am and Tuticorin at 03:30 am.
With these additions, there will be five weekly services to Thoothukudi and one weekly service to Tirunelveli, taking the total to six services per week from Coimbatore to the southern districts.
Another intra-railway special train (TOD) proposed by Southern Railway is between Podanur Junction and MGR Chennai Central Railway Station.
The train will depart from Podanur Junction at 7.40 a.m. and arrive at MGR Chennai Central Railway Station (MAS) at 4.45 p.m. on the same day. The service will run on Fridays and Sundays from April 10, 2026, to June 7, 2026.
In the return direction, the train will depart from MGR Chennai Central at 6.35 p.m. on Fridays and Sundays and arrive at Podanur Junction at 3.30 a.m. the next day, reaching on Saturdays and Mondays.
Coimbatore NXT, a long-term strategic initiative launched by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) to transform Coimbatore into a premier global economic hub, has welcomed the introduction of summer special train services from Thoothukudi to Mettupalayam and from Chennai to Podanur for the benefit of passengers travelling during the summer season from Coimbatore district.
The organisation has also requested Southern Railway to consider operating train services from Coimbatore to Rameswaram and Tiruchendur, which would benefit pilgrims and encourage families to travel to these spiritual destinations, especially during the holidays.
