A one-way Chennai–Mangaluru special train has been announced to ease festival-season crowding, with the service passing through Salem and several major towns in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and coastal Karnataka. The Salem railway division said the train will depart from Chennai Egmore at 11:55 pm and reach Mangaluru Central at 7:45 pm the following day.
According to the announcement, the special service will operate via Perambur, Arakkonam, Katpadi, Jolarpettai, Salem, Erode, Tiruppur, Podanur, Palakkad, Kozhikode, Kannur and Kasaragod before terminating at Mangaluru Central.
The train is scheduled to arrive at Salem at 5:10 am the following morning. This gives passengers from Salem and nearby districts an additional overnight travel option towards Kerala and Mangaluru during a period when demand for reserved and long-distance rail services typically rises.
The service links Chennai with multiple urban centres along the existing rail route, including Salem, Erode, Tiruppur, Palakkad, Kozhikode, Kannur and Kasaragod. These stations serve passengers travelling between the Chennai metropolitan region, western Tamil Nadu, Kerala and coastal Karnataka.
The announcement is specifically aimed at reducing crowding during the festival period. The railway administration has not provided further details in the supplied announcement about the train number, coach composition, fare structure, booking availability or the exact date of the return service. The service has been described as a one-way special train.
For passengers boarding at intermediate stations, the overnight departure from Chennai and the early-morning arrival at Salem provide a direct connection without requiring a change at another station. The later arrival at Mangaluru Central allows the train to continue beyond Kerala after serving stations along the Palakkad–Kozhikode–Kannur–Kasaragod corridor.
The route also reflects the role of Salem and other intermediate railway cities as transfer and boarding points during peak travel periods. A special service on an established corridor can distribute demand across additional capacity, particularly for passengers travelling from inland Tamil Nadu towards Kerala and Mangaluru.
The Salem railway division said the train would follow the announced schedule, departing Chennai Egmore at 11:55 pm, reaching Salem at 5:10 am and arriving at Mangaluru Central at 7:45 pm the next day. Passengers will need to check the railway’s booking and operational information before travelling, as the supplied announcement does not include those details.
