Since Onam 2026 is just around the corner, a number of people will be traveling back to Kerala to reach their homes in time for the Onam festivities. Seeing that this will increase the load on existing train routes, Indian Railways (IR) has announced 112 special trains to Kerala. These trains will connect major hubs in the South like Chennai, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru to Kerala, easing the load that increases during these festivals. Here are the details about the special trains announced for Onam 2026.
Onam Special Trains 2026
Here is a convenient table that tells you exactly how many trains are added to which networks
| Zonal Operation Category | Number of Notified Trips | Key Connecting Regions |
| SR Intra-Railway Specials | 38 Trips | Internal Kerala routes and TN-Kerala borders |
| SR Inter-Railway Specials | 16 Trips | Chennai, Egmore, Tambaram to Kollam/Trivandrum |
| Other Zonal Specials (SWR, SCR, SER) | 58 Trips | Bengaluru, Mysuru, Hyderabad, Santragachi |
Major Travel Routes
Chennai And Tamil Nadu Hubs to Kerala (Southern Railway)
Points Of Origin: Starting points of major routes from the South announced include
Destinations: These routes end at major South hubs like
Major Halts On Route: These routes will halt at other major southern hubs like
Bengaluru, Mysuru, And Karnataka Corridor (South Western Railway)
Points Of Origin: Starting points of major routes from the Southwest announced include Dr MGR Chennai Central, Tambaram, Chennai Egmore, Mangaluru Central, etc.
Destinations: These routes end at major Southwestern hubs like Kollam Junction, Thiruvananthapuram Central, etc.
Major Halts On Route: These routes will halt at other major Southwestern hubs like Arakkonam, Jolarpettai, Erode, Podanur, Palakkad, Thrissur, Ernakulam, Kottayam, Punalur, Sengottai, Madurai, Tiruchirappalli, etc.
Telangana And Andhra Pradesh Corridor (South Central Railway)
Points Of Origin: Starting points of major routes from the South Central regions announced include Hyderabad, Cherlapalli, etc.
Destinations: These routes end at major South Central hubs like Kollam Junction, Mangaluru Central, etc.
Major Halts On Route: These routes will halt at other major South Central hubs like Secunderabad, Guntur, Tenali, Gudur, Renigunta, Katpadi, Jolarpettai, etc.
Eastern Corridor (South Eastern Railway)
Points Of Origin: Starting points of major routes from the Southeastern regions announced include Santragachi (West Bengal), etc.
Destinations: These routes end at major Southeastern hubs like Ernakulam Junction, Thiruvananthapuram Central, etc.
Major Halts On Route: These routes will halt at other major Southeastern hubs like Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, Gudur, Renigunta, Erode, Kottayam, etc.
Also Read: Experiencing Onam Festival In Kerala
Trains For Onam 2026
Here is a list of the most crucial Onam special trains from major hubs and their most important details:
| Onam Special Trains To Kerala (Train Number And Route) | Operating Days | Running Period (2026) | Primary Stoppages |
| 06555 and 06556 SMVT Bengaluru ⇌ T’Puram North | Fri and Sun | Aug 14 to Sept 6 | Salem, Erode, Palakkad, Shoranur, Kottayam |
| 07193 and 07194 Hyderabad ⇌ Kollam Jn | Sat and Mon | Aug 15 to Sept 7 | Guntur, Renigunta, Katpadi, Jolarpettai, Ernakulam |
| 06117 and 06118 Chennai Central ⇌ Kollam Jn | Thu to Sat and Fri to Sun | Aug 15 to Sept 6 | Jolarpettai, Erode, Podanur, Thrissur, Ernakulam |
| 06110 and 06109 T’Puram Central ⇌ Tambaram | Wed and Thu | Aug 19 and Sept 3 | Punalur, Sengottai, Madurai, Tiruchirappalli |
| 07313 and 07314 Hubballi ⇌ Kollam Jn | Sun and Mon | Aug 16 and Sept 7 | Arsikere, SMVT Bengaluru, Salem, Palakkad |
Passenger Guidelines And How To Book
- Dynamic Waitlist Monitoring: The Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) of Southern Railway stated that waitlist trends are actively monitored.
- Additional Trips: Additional trips or coaches may be augmented if demand surges on high-density routes.
- Booking Channels: Tickets can be reserved online as well as offline. Online, you can book tickets via the official IRCTC website/app. Offline, you can book tickets at the railway Passenger Reservation System (PRS) counters across India.
- Special Fare Structure: These trains operate under the Special Train (MSPC or TOD) fare category.
- Tatkal/Premium Tatkal: Tatkal and Premium Tatkal quotas apply per railway norms.
Also Read: Exploring The Hidden Backwaters Of Kerala: A Non-Tourist Route
Summing Up
The announcement of these trains is sure to aid in easing the increased load on existing train routes during such festive seasons.
