Southern Railways Announce Special Trains for Makaravilakku Pilgrims
The Southern Railway has put in place elaborate arrangements to ensure smooth, safe, and comfortable travel for Sabarimala pilgrims during the Makaravilakku festival. To manage the heavy rush of devotees, a total of 336 special train services are being operated in connection with the annual pilgrimage this season.
As part of these arrangements, additional Makaravilakku Special Express trains have been introduced to clear the extra passenger demand. Train No. 06065 Kollam–Kakinada Town Express Special will depart from Kollam Junction at 3.30 a.m. on Thursday, January 15, 2026, and reach Kakinada Town at 12 noon on Friday. Within the Thiruvananthapuram Division, the train will halt at Kayamkulam Junction, Chengannur, Thiruvalla, Changanassery, Kottayam, Ernakulam Town, Aluva, and Thrissur. In the return direction, Train No. 06066 Kakinada Town–Kollam Express Special will leave Kakinada Town at 6.28 p.m. on Friday, January 16, and arrive at Kollam Junction at 10.30 p.m. on Saturday.
Another special service, Train No. 06067 Thiruvananthapuram Central–Charlapalli Express Special, will depart Thiruvananthapuram Central at 4.10 a.m. on Thursday, January 15, and reach Charlapalli at 3 p.m. on Friday. The train will have scheduled stoppages at Kollam Junction, Chengannur, Thiruvalla, Changanassery, Kottayam, Ernakulam Town, Aluva, and Thrissur within the division. The return service, Train No. 06068 Charlapalli–Thiruvananthapuram Central Express Special, will leave Charlapalli at 9.45 p.m. on Friday, January 16, and reach Thiruvananthapuram Central at 8 a.m. on Sunday.
After the Makaravilakku festival, pilgrims can also avail themselves of around 20 train services with scheduled stoppages at Chengannur. Among these, Train No. 07114 (Kollam–Charlapalli), Train No. 06065 (Kollam–Kakinada Town), Train No. 06067 (Thiruvananthapuram–Charlapalli), Train No. 06120 (Kollam–Chennai), and Train No. 06548 (Thiruvananthapuram North–SMVT Bengaluru) have been notified as Makaravilakku special trains.
The Railways stated on Tuesday that these arrangements are aimed at ensuring hassle-free travel for pilgrims during the peak festival period.
