Chennai: For the first time in decades, 15 train rakes from Tamil Nadu are being diverted to North India to manage the rush for the Maha Kumbh Mela 2025. Each rake, comprising 20 coaches and two locomotives, will be sent to Central railways starting late Dec, according to internal Southern Railway documents accessed by TOI.
The rakes will be assembled at Chennai Central, Tambaram, Coimbatore and Trichy depots this week. Railway transportation managers in Tamil Nadu have been directed to vinyl-wrap the coaches “on priority” and ensure their immediate dispatch to Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh.
This move has removed unreserved coaches from key trains such as Tambaram-Trichy and Tambaram-Coimbatore, and the suspension of Tambaram-Rameshwaram train services, drawing criticism from local passengers. Travellers are now forced to rely on overpriced private buses or overcrowded govt buses to go to south Tamil Nadu, especially pilgrim destinations popular with Sabarimala devotees. While the state transport department has announced 600 additional special buses, private operators reportedly doubled fares to Madurai and Coimbatore.
K Baskar from the Railway Passengers’ Welfare Association criticised the decision, stating, “Tamil Nadu faces a massive rush during Pongal in January. If other railway zones also diverted their trains here, it would be acceptable. But sending our coaches alone to the north to address the shortage there will severely impact lakhs of passengers.”
Central Railway specifically requested IRS-type coaches. While these coaches haven’t been upgraded to modern Linke-Hofmann-Busch (LHB) standards, Southern Railway said the diverted rakes are spares primarily used in mainline multiple electric unit (MEMU) passenger services, and they will continue to operate Christmas and New Year special trains to Coimbatore and Bengaluru.
Additionally, three Kumbh Mela special trains are operated by Southern Railway, connecting not only Chennai but also southern districts of Kanyakumari, Tirunelveli, Madurai, and Trichy directly with Gaya. These trains will be operated till the end of Feb. The mela is scheduled between Jan 13 and Feb 26 next year.
