Railways step in with special trains, extra coaches after IndiGo cancellations
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Chennai: Southern Railway has announced special trains and additional coaches on key routes across Tamil Nadu and Kerala to help air travellers hit by large-scale IndiGo flight cancellations.
According to an official statement, three pairs of special express trains will run on December 7 and 8 to meet the sudden spike in demand. The Coimbatore–Dr MGR Chennai Central–Coimbatore Express Specials (Nos. 06024/06023) will operate via Tirupur, Erode and Salem on both days. The Thiruvananthapuram North–Chennai Egmore–Thiruvananthapuram North Express Specials (Nos. 06108/06107) will also run on these dates via Podanur, Tirupur, Erode and Salem.
In addition, the Nagercoil–Tambaram–Nagercoil Superfast Specials (Nos. 06012/06011) will be operated on December 7 and 8 via Madurai, Dindigul and Tiruchirappalli.
These services are part of a nationwide rail augmentation plan drawn up after widespread disruptions in IndiGo’s flight operations. A Railway Ministry release said 37 trains across the country have been strengthened with 116 additional coaches, resulting in more than 114 augmented trips. Extra chair car and sleeper coaches have been deployed on routes facing heavy rush.
The temporary augmentation began on Saturday and will remain in force till December 10 for most trains, with a few to run with additional coaches till December 12. On Sunday (December 7), Southern Railway will attach one extra AC three-tier coach each to the Thiruvananthapuram Central–Dr MGR Chennai Central Superfast Express (No. 12696) and the Mumbai CST–Chennai Beach Superfast Express (No. 22157).
The Jodhpur–Tiruchirappalli Humsafar Express (No. 20481) will get an additional AC three-tier coach on December 10. The Dr MGR Chennai Central–Coimbatore Shatabdi Express (No. 12243), starting its journey on December 7, will be provided with one extra chair car coach, and its return service, the Coimbatore–Dr MGR Chennai Central Shatabdi Express (No. 12244), will also run with an additional chair car.
Three other services beginning on December 7 – the Salem–Chennai Egmore Express (No. 22154), the Erode–Dr MGR Chennai Central Yercaud Superfast Express (No. 22650) and the Alappuzha–Dr MGR Chennai Central Superfast Express (No. 22640) – will each be augmented with one extra sleeper class coach.
Railway officials said the measures are aimed at ensuring smooth passenger movement and easing travel hardships triggered by the sudden disruption in air services.
(Inputs from IANS)