As a major relief to train commuters, the Railway Board has reportedly given permission to resume operation of 13 trains, which includes Malabar Express and Maveli Express. Many trains were suspended due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
On December 4, Mangaluru-Thiruvanathapuram Malabar Express will start its service, and Manguluru-Thiruvananthapuram Maveli Express will begin operation on December 10. On December 8, trains on Chennai-Thiruvananthapuram, Chennai-Mangaluru, Chennai-Palakkad, Chennai-Guruvayur (via Thiruvananthapuram) routes will begin service. Madurai-Punalur express train too will start its operation on Friday.
Chennai-Tiruchendur, Chennai-Karaikal, Coimbatore-Nagercoil via Madurai, Chennai Egmore-Rameswaram, Chennai-Nagercoil, Chennai-Mannargudi too will resume services.
All these daily service trains will not have a general compartment since they are operating as Covid-19 special trains. Only reservation coaches will be available in these trains for the time being.
It is not clear whether Parasuram Express, Ernad Express, Rajyarani Express and Amritha Express will resume shortly. Earlier, in a letter to Union Minister of Railways Piyush Goyal, MP Pollachi K Shanmugasundaram had requested to resume Palakkad-Chennai train since inter-state trains from Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam and Ernakulam are being operated to Chennai.
