Archive · 10 Aug 2026
Indian Railways to run 112 special trains for Onam 2026
Onam is a big harvest festival celebrated in Kerala, a state in southern India.
During Onam, many people travel back home to celebrate with their families, which makes trains very busy.
To help, Indian Railways is adding 112 special trains this year.
That is more than double the number it ran last year.
The special trains will run from mid-August to early September.
They will connect Kerala with big cities like Chennai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad.
The extra trains will help reduce long waiting lists and ease crowding.
Rail officials will watch how many people book tickets and may add even more trains if needed.
This way, more people can reach home in time for the festival.
Indian Railways will operate 112 special train trips for the Onam 2026 festival period, up roughly 103% from 55 trips in 2025.
Southern Railway accounts for 54 of the services, including 38 trips within its own network and 16 inter-zonal trips.
South Western, South Central and South Eastern Railways will jointly run the remaining 58 services into and through Kerala.
The special trains will run between August 14 and September 6, linking Kerala with cities in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal.
The services target non-resident Keralites, students, working professionals and tourists, and more trains may be added if demand keeps building.
- Who
- Indian Railways, led by Southern Railway along with South Western, South Central and South Eastern Railways
- What
- Operating 112 special trains to manage the festive travel surge for Onam 2026
- When
- Between August 14 and September 6, 2026
- Where
- On routes connecting Kerala with major cities in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal
- Why
- To handle the sharp rise in passenger demand during the Onam harvest festival and to reduce waitlists and congestion
- Number of special trains
- 112
- Special trains in Onam 2025
- 55
- Year-on-year increase
- Approximately 103%
- Operating period
- August 14 - September 6, 2026
- Southern Railway share
- 54 trips (38 intra-network, 16 inter-zonal)
- Other zonal railways
- 58 trips by South Western, South Central and South Eastern Railways
- Connecting states
- Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal
- Target passengers
- Non-resident Keralites, students, working professionals and tourists