Kollam: Southern Railway (SR) has announced the commencement of special train services between Chennai and Kollam to manage the anticipated rush of pilgrims during the upcoming annual Sabarimala Mandalakalam season. The initial announcement confirms four special train pairings connecting Chennai with Kollam, the nearest major railhead to the Sabarimala shrine.
The services, which will run from mid-November to late January, are specifically timed to facilitate comfortable travel for devotees from Tamil Nadu and other regions. Southern Railway has indicated that more special services are expected to be announced in the coming days.
Detailed Special Train Schedules (Chennai – Kollam)
The four trains currently notified will connect Chennai Egmore and Chennai Central stations with Kollam Junction, offering multiple travel options throughout the week.
| Train No. (Up/Dn) | Route | Day of Departure (from Chennai) | Duration | Key Kerala Stops |
| 06111 / 06112 | Chennai Egmore – Kollam | Friday (Dep. 11:55 PM) | Nov 14 to Jan 16 (10 trips) | Palakkad, Thrissur, Ernakulam Town, Kottayam, Chengannur |
| 06113 / 06114 | Chennai Central – Kollam | Sunday (Dep. 11:50 PM) | Nov 17 to Jan 19 | Palakkad, Thrissur, Aluva, Ernakulam, Kottayam, Chengannur |
| 06119 / 06220 | Chennai Central – Kollam | Wednesday (Dep. 3:10 PM) | Nov 19 to Jan 21 | Palakkad, Thrissur, Aluva, Ernakulam, Kottayam, Chengannur |
| 06127 / 06128 | Chennai Central – Kollam | Thursday (Dep. 11:50 PM) | Season-long | Palakkad, Thrissur, Aluva, Ernakulam, Kottayam, Chengannur |
Operational Notes:
- Train 06111/06112: Departs Chennai Egmore on Friday night, reaching Kollam at 4:30 PM the following day. The return journey (06112) starts from Kollam at 7:35 PM on Saturday.
- Train 06119/06220: This day-time service departs Chennai Central at 3:10 PM on Wednesdays, arriving in Kollam early Thursday morning at 6:40 AM. The return journey from Kollam (06220) begins at 10:40 AM on Thursday.
- All services include stops at major pilgrim-convenience points like Chengannur and Thiruvalla (except 06119/06220 and 06127/06128 which only list Chengannur in the original list, but generally stop at major points like Kottayam and Thiruvalla).
