Archive · 29 Aug 2026
Railways Announces Sambalpur–Podanur Puja Festival Special Train Services
Railways are adding special trains for people traveling during the Puja Festival.
The trains will run between Sambalpur and Podanur.
One train will leave Sambalpur every Wednesday from September 9 through November 25, 2026.
The return train will leave Podanur every Friday from September 11 through November 27.
There will be 12 trips in each direction.
The trains will stop at many cities along the route.
Passengers can choose air-conditioned, sleeper or general seating.
Reservations opened on August 29, 2026, and passengers were advised to book early.
East Coast Railway will run Sambalpur–Podanur special trains during the 2026 Puja Festival period.
Train 08311 will operate from Sambalpur to Podanur every Wednesday from September 9 to November 25.
Train 08312 will return from Podanur every Friday from September 11 to November 27.
Each direction will receive 12 services, stopping at stations including Vijayawada, Perambur, Katpadi, Salem, Erode and Tiruppur.
The 20-coach trains will offer AC First Class, AC Two-Tier, AC Three-Tier, Sleeper and General Class accommodation.
- Who
- East Coast Railway, with the announcement shared by Southern Railway, will operate the services.
- What
- Twelve special train trips in each direction will run between Sambalpur and Podanur.
- When
- The outbound service runs Wednesdays from September 9 to November 25, 2026; the return runs Fridays from September 11 to November 27, 2026.
- Where
- The trains connect Sambalpur in Odisha with Podanur near Coimbatore, stopping at stations across the route.
- Why
- The services are intended to handle additional passenger demand during the Puja Festival period.
- Train numbers
- 08311 Sambalpur–Podanur and 08312 Podanur–Sambalpur
- Outbound schedule
- 08311 departs Sambalpur at 11:35 a.m. every Wednesday and reaches Podanur at 1:30 a.m. Friday
- Return schedule
- 08312 departs Podanur at 1:00 p.m. every Friday and is scheduled to reach Sambalpur the following day
- Number of services
- 12 trips in each direction
- Reservation opening
- Advance booking opened at 8:00 a.m. on August 29, 2026
- Coach composition
- 20 coaches: 1 AC First Class, 1 AC Two-Tier, 5 AC Three-Tier, 7 Sleeper, 4 General Second Class, 1 Divyangjan-friendly Second Class and 1 luggage-cum-brake van
- Major stops
- Vijayawada, Perambur, Katpadi, Jolarpettai, Salem, Erode and Tiruppur