Visakhapatnam: In view of the surge of Ayyappa devotees visiting Sabarimala, East Coast Railway has announced special trains between Visakhapatnam and Kollam as well as Srikakulam Road and Kollam.
No. 08537 Srikakulam Road-Kollam-Srikakulam Road Special Express will depart from Srikakulam Road every Saturday at 11:00 p.m. starting from November 25 until January 27, 2024. The train will reach Kollam on Sundays at 6:00 p.m. The train will return as No. 08538, departing from Kollam on Sundays at 7:35 p.m. from November 26, 2023, to January 28, 2024. It will reach Srikakulam Road at 2:00 p.m. the next day.
The special trains will halt at Chipurupalli, Vizianagaram, Kottavalasa, Pendurthi, Duvvada, Samalkota, Rajahmundry, Eluru, Vijayawada, Tenali, Ongole, Nellore, Gudur, Renigunta, Katpadi, Jolarpettai, Salem, Erode, Tiruppur, Podunur, Palakkad, Thrichur, Aluva, Ernakulam Town, Kottayam, Chenganseri, Tiruvalla, Chengannur, Mavelikara between Srikakulam Road and Kollam stations.
The composition of these trains will be one second AC, four Third AC, 10 Sleeper Class, five second class sitting, and two second class sitting cum luggage / Divyangjan coaches.
No. 08539 Visakhapatnam-Kollam-Visakhapatnam Special Express will depart from Visakhapatnam every Wednesday at 08:20 a.m. from November 29 to January 31, 2024, reaching Kollam on Thursdays at 12:55 p.m. The train will return as No. 08540, leaving Kollam on Thursdays at 7:35 p.m. from November 30 to February 1, 2024, reaching Visakhapatnam on Fridays at 11:20 p.m.
Stoppages for this pair of trains are Duvvada, Samalkot, Rajahmundry, Eluru, Vijayawada, Tenali, Ongole, Nellore, Gudur, Renigunta, Katpadi, Jolarpettai, Salem, Erode, Tiruppur, Podunur, Palakkad, Thrichur, Aluva, Ernakulam Town, Kottayam, Chenganseri, Tiruvalla, Chengannur, Mavelikara, and Kayamkulam between Visakhapatnam and Kollam stations.
These trains will have LHB coaches comprising 12 3AC economy coaches, six General Second Class coaches and two generator cars.
