Passengers planning to travel during the Onam festival season will get additional rail connectivity. The Southern Railways has announced two pairs of Onam Special trains interlinking Mangaluru Central-Chennai Egmore and Thiruvananthapuram Central-Tambaram. The special services will run between July and September 2026 to cater for the expected festive rush.
In separate posts on X, Southern Railway stated that the additional trains have been introduced to assist passengers who will travel home during Onam. While the Mangaluru Central-Chennai Egmore specials will offer eight services in each direction, the Thiruvananthapuram Central-Tambaram specials will operate four services each way. The railway has also announced that advance reservation for the Thiruvananthapuram-Tambaram specials has started at 8 am today, July 9, 2026.
Southern Railway's Onam Special connecting Thiruvananthapuram Central & Tambaram.
4 services each way | Aug–Sept 2026
Booking opens 08:00 hrs, 09.07.2026.#SouthernRailway pic.twitter.com/3BiHgZSckn
— Southern Railway (@GMSRailway) July 8, 2026
Mangaluru-Chennai Onam Special: Schedule and journey dates
Southern Railway will operate the following Weekly Express Special services:
Train No.06126 Mangaluru Central-Chennai Egmore Weekly Special
-This train will depart at 4 pm every Monday
-Arrival: 10:55 am the next Tuesday
-Journey dates: July 13, 20, 27, August 3, 10, 17, 24 and 31, 2026
-Total services: 8
Train No. 06125 Chennai Egmore-Mangalore Central Weekly Express Special
Departure: 8:40 AM the following Wednesday
Journey dates: July 14, 21, 28; August 4, 11, 18, 25 and September 1, 2026
Total services: Eight
These weekly special trains will connect Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala, offering additional capacity to passengers travelling during the festive season.
Thiruvananthapuram-Tambaram Onam Special: Schedule and booking details
Southern Railway has also launched another pair of Onam Special trains between Thiruvananthapuram Central and Tambaram.
Train No. 06110 Thiruvananthapuram Central-Tambaram Express Special
Departure: 3:45 pm every Wednesday
Arrival: 10 am the following Thursday
Journey dates: August 12, 19, 26 and September 2, 2026
Total services:4
Train No. 06109 Tambaram-Thiruvananthapuram Central Express Special
Departure: 2 pm every Thursday
Arrival: 7:15 am the following Friday
Journey dates: August 13, 20, 27 and September 3, 2026
Total services: Four
Southern Railway stated that advance reservation for these special trains commenced at 8 am today, July 9, 2026.
| Train No. | Route | Operating Day | Departure | Arrival | Total Services |
| 06126 | Mangaluru Central–Chennai Egmore | Monday | 4:00 pm | 10:55 am (next day) | 8 |
| 06125 | Chennai Egmore–Mangaluru Central | Tuesday | 2:00 pm | 8:40 am (next day) | 8 |
| 06110 | Thiruvananthapuram Central–Tambaram | Wednesday | 3:45 pm | 10:00 am (next day) | 4 |
| 06109 | Tambaram–Thiruvananthapuram Central | Thursday | 2:00 pm | 7:15 am (next day) | 4 |
Stoppages at a glance
06126/06125 Mangaluru Central–Chennai Egmore Weekly Express Special
- Mangaluru Central
- Kasaragod
- Kanhangad
- Payyanur
- Kannur
- Thalassery
- Vadakara
- Kozhikode
- Tirur
- Shoranur Junction
- Palakkad Junction
- Podanur Junction
- Tiruppur
- Erode Junction
- Salem Junction
- Jolarpettai Junction
- Katpadi Junction
- Arakkonam Junction
- Chennai Egmore
06110/06109 Thiruvananthapuram Central–Tambaram Onam Special
- Thiruvananthapuram Central
- Varkala
- Kollam Junction
- Kottarakara
- Avaneeswaram
- Punalur
- Sengottai
- Tenkasi Junction
- Kadayanallur
- Sankarankovil
- Rajapalayam
- Srivilliputtur
- Sivakasi
- Virudhunagar Junction
- Madurai Junction
- Kodai Road
- Dindigul Junction
- Tiruchchirappalli Junction
- Srirangam
- Ariyalur
- Vriddhachalam Junction
- Villupuram Junction
- Melmaruvathur
- Chengalpattu Junction
- Tambaram
The return services on both routes will halt at the same stations in the reverse direction. As per the detailed timetables released by Southern Railway, passengers can also refer to the official schedule for the arrival and departure timings at each intermediate station while planning their journey.
Additional services for the festival rush
Southern Railway’s Onam Special trains will offer extra capacity on two busy interstate routes during one of the busiest periods of the year.