To meet the huge increase in passenger demand during the festive period, Indian Railways has expanded the services on Onam Special Train with 112 special trips through Kerala to several cities in India.
It is the state’s biggest festival and thousands of people are going home for the festival, so there will be less travel time and an easier way of getting to the state.
Onam is Kerala’s most celebrated festival and thousands of tourists come every year, including students, migrant workers, and families returning home from different parts of the country. With regular trains usually booked weeks in advance, the new services are expected to provide much-needed relief for passengers.
The special trains will be operated on the key lines connecting Kerala to major metropolitan cities like Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Mumbai, New Delhi, Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, and Mangaluru, railway officials said. It will reduce waiting lists and make travel simpler during the busy tourist season.
The decision to double the number of Onam special services follows an increase in travel demand in previous years. There are no plans to make any further trips until the railway authorities have looked at passenger booking trends and expected crowd movement during the holiday period.
Besides the number of trains in Indian Railways, Indian Railways is also working to make passenger experience more convenient to travel with trains in addition to increasing the number of trains.
Crowd management in Kerala railway stations will increase crowd control, security measures will be improved, additional ticket-checking staff will be hired, and passenger information systems will be put in place for better passenger information in railway stations, keeping the safety of people traveling in mind as it is one of the busiest times of the year.
Train travelers should check the latest timetables and seat availability on trains and passenger booking websites for the latest railway reservation before starting their trip. Early booking is highly recommended as demand is very high during the Onam holidays.
The special trains will benefit not only Kerala residents but also people coming from neighboring states to the state for work, education, or tourism. Connectivity will alleviate the congestion on regular train services and allow travel planning to be flexible.
The increase also shows Indian Railways' continued ability to manage seasonal travel demand consistently. The national transporter will provide additional services on big festivals especially on the weekends and will reduce overcrowding and improve the travel experience for millions of passengers around the country.
Onam, a traditional festival of feasts, cultural performances, floral displays, and family events, has one of the highest passenger movements in southern India every year.
112 special trips will offer hope to many passengers who already struggle to secure confirmed tickets during the festive period.
The railway system must ensure that their trains are operated as scheduled and that the public is kept updated with railway announcements about the train numbers, departure times, and reservation availability as necessary i.e., train schedules can be adjusted based on operational requirements.
The festival season has come along and with it the improved railway services will make Kerala easier, more convenient, and more accessible.
