Indian Railways announces Onam special trains amid passenger concerns

Indian Railways has announced over 100 special train trips to accommodate the Onam festival rush, but passengers have raised concerns regarding the scheduling and route distribution of these services.

Travelers report that many services do not align with peak travel dates, such as the period between August 20 and 25, or fail to provide sufficient return services after the festival. There are also complaints regarding a lack of options for the Malabar region, as many services are concentrated toward south Kerala destinations like Kollam and Thiruvananthapuram. Additionally, some passengers noted that coach compositions, such as a high ratio of AC accommodation over sleeper berths on certain routes, do not meet local demand.

One specific service has been announced from Bengaluru Cantonment to Kannur, departing on August 20 and returning on August 21. This 23-coach train will travel via the Palakkad route, stopping at stations including Salem, Erode, Tiruppur, Shornur, Kozhikode, and Thalassery.