Chittoor, Salem, Erode, Tiruppur, Palakkad, Thrissur, and Ernakulam Open A Transformative Rail Corridor Boosting High-Demand Pilgrim Travel With Faster Expanded And Comfort-Focused Special Trains This Peak Season

Published on December 4, 2025

Chittoor, Salem, Erode, Tiruppur, Palakkad, Thrissur, and Ernakulam have emerged as the key pillars of India’s festive travel network because these bustling junctions lie at the heart of newly expanded pilgrim rail services designed to carry thousands safely and smoothly during the peak season. Their strategic placement along major routes and their ability to handle heavy passenger flow make them essential to the railway’s plan to boost capacity, ease congestion, and ensure a more reliable journey for travellers heading toward the busy pilgrimage corridor. Together, these stations form a strengthened travel spine that supports faster operations, improved comfort, and seamless connectivity—directly delivering the powerful transformation promised in the headline.

South Central Railway has rolled out a wider network of special services to manage the heavy flow of pilgrims expected to travel toward Kollam during the December–January season. With thousands preparing for their annual journey to the revered hill shrine, the railways have strengthened connectivity from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh by launching six dedicated Sabarimala special trains and extending two existing routes to handle peak-time demand.

The seasonal surge has long placed pressure on regular schedules, and this year’s travel window is shaping up to be particularly busy. To prevent overcrowding and ensure travellers have reliable transportation options, the new timetable spreads out departures through late December and mid-January, giving pilgrims more flexibility in planning their onward and return journeys.

Under the revised plan, Train 07125 will depart from Narsapur to Kollam on December 27, offering a timely travel option for groups heading out toward the end of the year. Another key service, Train 07127 from Charlapalli, will run on January 10 and again on January 17, providing additional capacity during the peak outbound rush. These trains are strategically placed to ease pressure on regular long-distance services, which often reach full occupancy weeks in advance during the pilgrimage season.

For the return leg, two trains have been scheduled from Kollam on selected Mondays throughout December and January. Train 07126 and Train 07128 will be available on these dates, allowing pilgrims to stagger their homeward journey instead of crowding into a narrow set of options. This spread-out return schedule is expected to ease platform congestion and offer a far smoother dispersal of passenger traffic through major transit hubs.

Each of the special services has been structured to ensure a comfortable ride for varied travel preferences. Every train will include AC coaches for long-distance travellers seeking a more relaxed journey, sleeper coaches for those looking for standard overnight comfort, and general coaches for budget-friendly options. This combination aims to support pilgrims travelling as families, large groups, or solo passengers, ensuring that everyone can find a seat that fits their needs and budget.

The special trains will halt at several important junctions along the way, including Vijayawada, Renigunta, Chittoor, Salem, Erode, Tiruppur, Palakkad, Thrissur, and Ernakulam Town. These stops have been chosen strategically, as they serve as key interchange points for travellers from various districts connecting toward Kollam. By maintaining these halts, the railways ensure that the flow of pilgrims from multiple regions remains smooth and coordinated.

Alongside the six special services, South Central Railway has also extended two routes into early January 2026. The Sirpur Kaghaznagar–Kollam and Kollam–Charlapalli services will continue to operate with their existing timings and halts. These extensions are particularly welcome for those planning later trips after the New Year rush or returning slightly after the peak period. Keeping these trains running into January offers crucial breathing room for both passengers and railway operations, reducing the typical bottlenecks seen in the first weeks of the year.

Railway officials have emphasised that these enhanced services are designed to handle one of the busiest travel cycles in the region. Every year, the Sabarimala pilgrimage attracts huge numbers of devotees, and transportation networks often face overwhelming demand. By expanding the total number of trains and distributing them more evenly across key dates, the railway aims to create an organised flow of movement that aligns with the rhythm of pilgrim traffic.

The introduction of these special trains is expected to relieve pressure not only on major junctions but also on smaller stations that typically see a sudden spike in footfall during the season. With more trains offering additional seating and sleeper berths, passengers will find it easier to plan trips without resorting to last-minute alternatives or navigating long waiting lists.

Travel planners note that the December–January window requires meticulous scheduling, particularly for families travelling with senior citizens or young children. The availability of AC and sleeper coaches in these special trains will likely come as a relief to those seeking a more comfortable option on long journeys. Meanwhile, general coaches ensure affordability remains intact for larger groups.

These measures underline a broader attempt by the railways to refine seasonal travel management. By increasing capacity, honouring traditional halts, and extending selected routes, the network is aligning itself with the heightened needs of pilgrims while making sure the overall transport system remains steady during the festive period.

As the pilgrimage season approaches, travellers are expected to benefit significantly from this structured rollout. The added connectivity from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh to Kollam, combined with thoughtful scheduling of return journeys, positions this network expansion as a timely move to support thousands heading toward the annual spiritual destination.