Click it and Unblock the Notifications
Regular train services on the Karaikal-Peralam broad gauge railway line via Thirunallar will begin on May 20, bringing back passenger train operations on this route after almost 40 years. The 23.5 km electrified railway section comes under the Tiruchi Railway Division.
Karaikal-Peralam Train
Earlier, this route had a metre gauge railway line, but passenger services were stopped in the mid-1980s. Now, after the construction of the new broad gauge line, one express train and two passenger train services will run daily on the section. The regular services are starting nearly a year after the Commissioner of Railway Safety from Bengaluru inspected the route and approved train operations in May 2025.
Karaikal-Peralam Train Schedule
Railway officials confirmed that three regular train services will start from May 20. A Passenger Reservation System counter will also open at Thirunallar Railway Station for the convenience of passengers.
Tambaram-Karaikal Train Schedule
The daily Tambaram-Karaikal-Tambaram Express with 16175/76 will now run through the Karaikal-Peralam section and will also be extended up to Velankanni. The train will stop at Karaikal, Thirunallar, and Peralam stations. According to the schedule, the train from Velankanni will leave at 9:50 PM and reach Tambaram at 4:35 AM. It will stop for two minutes at Karaikal and Thirunallar stations. The return train from Tambaram will depart at 9:30 PM and arrive at Velankanni at 4:30 AM the next day.
Daily Passenger Trains
Apart from the express service, daily passenger trains will also run between Velankanni and Mayiladuthurai through Karaikal, Thirunallar, and Peralam. Another passenger service will operate daily between Karaikal and Mayiladuthurai on the same route.
Since the new broad gauge line opened last year, only freight trains have been running on it. Though special trains were operated during events such as the Velankanni festival, Nagore Kandoori festival, and the Sani Peyarchi festival at Thirunallar, regular passenger services had not started despite repeated requests from rail users. Local passengers had even staged protests demanding the early resumption of regular train services on this route.