Chennai, January 5: To manage the heavy passenger surge during the upcoming Pongal festival, Southern Railway has announced the operation of several special trains across Tamil Nadu and its neighboring states. The services are scheduled to run from January 8 to January 21, 2026, providing critical connectivity for thousands of travelers heading to their hometowns for the harvest festival. Reservations for these special services officially opened at 8:00 AM on Sunday, January 4.

The special trains will connect major southern terminals, including Nagercoil, Kanniyakumari, Tirunelveli, Coimbatore, and Rameswaram, with primary Chennai hubs such as Tambaram, Chennai Egmore, and Dr. MGR Chennai Central. Given that regular train tickets for the peak festival dates of January 13–16 were largely exhausted within minutes of opening last November, these additional services aim to provide a second window for commuters who were unable to secure confirmed seats. iPad Lost on Dakshin Express Train Recovered With Help of RailMadad App, Owner Thanks Indian Railways.

Pongal 2026 Special Trains: Key Routes and Schedules

Southern Railway has outlined specific rotations to cover the highest-demand corridors. Notable services include:

  • Nagercoil/Kanniyakumari – Tambaram: Superfast Specials (06012/06011) will run on January 11, 12, 18, and 19.

  • Kanniyakumari – Tambaram – Nagercoil: Express Specials (06054/06053) are scheduled for January 13, 14, 20, and 21.

  • Tirunelveli – Chengalpattu: Superfast Specials (06156/06155 and 06158/06157) will operate on January 9, 10, 16, and 17.

  • Coimbatore – Chennai Central: AC and Superfast Specials (06034/06033) will serve passengers on January 11, 12, 18, and 19.

Additional one-off and recurring services have been added between Mangaluru Junction and Chennai Central, as well as an Erode–Sengottai–Podanur circuit to facilitate travel between western and southern districts.

Pongal 2026 Special Trains: Booking Information

Tickets can be booked through the IRCTC website, the Rail Connect app, or at physical railway reservation counters. Due to the high volume of traffic, travelers are encouraged to verify train numbers and departure timings, as some special services are scheduled for late-night or early-morning departures to maximize track availability. Viral Video of Leopard Chasing Train on Badnera-Gopal Nagar Railway Tracks in Amravati Real or Fake? Forest Department Says Footage Is AI-Generated.

Pongal, celebrated on January 15, traditionally sees one of the largest seasonal migrations in South India. In addition to the rail services, the Tamil Nadu government has scheduled a high-level review meeting for January 6 to finalise the deployment of special buses.

Railway officials have advised passengers to utilise the IRCTC portal and mobile app for real-time seat availability, as the special fare trains often carry different pricing structures than regular express services.

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(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 05, 2026 11:29 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).