Pongal Festival Rush: Special Trains to Kerala via Podanur Announced Coimbatore | January 11
Additional special trains have been announced for Pongal 2026 between Bengaluru and Kerala via Podanur, covering routes to Kollam and Kannur with multiple stops across Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
Arunkumar Gowrishankar 
To manage the increased passenger traffic during the Pongal festival, the Salem Railway Division has announced the operation of additional special trains from Bengaluru to Kerala via Podanur.
According to an official release, a Bengaluru–Kollam Special Train (No. 06219) will depart from Bengaluru on January 13 at 11:00 PM and reach Kollam on January 14 at 4:00 PM. The return service, Kollam–Bengaluru Special Train (No. 06220), will leave Kollam on January 14 at 6:30 PM and arrive at Bengaluru on January 15 at 10:30 AM.
This train will halt at major stations including Kayamkulam, Mavelikkara, Chengannur, Thiruvalla, Changanassery, Kottayam, Ernakulam Town, Aluva, Thrissur, Palakkad, Podanur, Tiruppur, Erode, Salem, Bangarapet, and Krishnarajapuram.
In addition, a Bengaluru–Kannur Special Train (No. 06577) will depart from Bengaluru on January 13 at 5:00 PM and reach Kannur on January 14 at 7:50 AM. The return service, Kannur–Bengaluru Special Train (No. 06578), will leave Kannur on January 14 at 11:30 PM and arrive in Bengaluru on January 15 at 4:10 AM.
This train will stop at Thalassery, Vadakara, Kozhikode, Tirur, Shoranur, Palakkad, Podanur, Tiruppur, Erode, Salem, Bangarapet, and Krishnarajapuram.
Railway officials said the special services are aimed at easing the heavy festival travel demand between Karnataka, Coimbatore region, and Kerala during the Pongal holidays.
