Chennai: Tickets for all trains from Kerala to Chennai, after Onam, are completely sold out. None of the permanent trains to Chennai have any tickets between September 5 and 8. The tickets were swiftly sold out after people began booking tickets in huge numbers to reach Chennai before September 8, which is a working day. However, tickets are available in all trains from September 9 onwards.

Busiest time of the year
As September 5 (Thiruvonam) falls on a Friday, most people try to return to Chennai on September 7 and 8. Tickets for the Chennai Mail, departing from Thiruvananthapuram at 3 pm, and the Anantapuri Express, which leaves at 4.05 pm, are completely sold out as of September 7. Meanwhile, tickets will be available on the waiting list as of September 8. Tickets are available on the waiting list at Chennai Super Fast at 5.15 pm on the same day. However, tickets have been moved up to RAC on this train as of September 8. Tickets for AC coaches in all three trains have now moved to the waiting list. The status of tickets is similar in the Alleppey – Chennai Super Fast Express too.

The Super-Fast AC Express, which operates only on Sundays and Wednesdays, also has tickets available on the waiting list. Meanwhile, all trains to Malabar, except the West Coast Express, have tickets on the waiting list. Tickets are available in the sleeper and third AC coaches in the West Coast Express from September 7 onwards. Additionally, tickets are available for purchase on the Mangaluru–Thambaram train via Tamil Nadu. However, Keralites from the northern districts generally do not rely on this train as it takes around 18 – 20 hours to reach Chennai.

Tickets on September 1
Tickets are available only on September 1 in these trains ahead of Onam. Tickets could be booked on all trains to northern Kerala, as well as the Mangaluru Mail, on September 1. However, they have been on the waiting list since September 2. Tickets are available in Mangaluru Super Fast at 4.20 pm on September 2. Vacant seats have been reported in the West Coast Express at 1.25 pm on all days except September 3.

Complaints are rife that passengers on the waiting list enter the sleeper and AC compartments and forcefully occupy the seats of passengers who have confirmed tickets. Photo: Special Arrangement
Special trains are usually announced only at the last moment during the festival seasons, often causing confusion and anxiety. Photo: Special Arrangement
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Ernakulam – Patna Special
Special trains have been scheduled from Ernakulam to Patna (06085) on July 25, August 1, 8 and 15. Meanwhile, the return trips (06086) are scheduled for July 28, August 4, 11, and 18. This train has stops in Aluva, Thrissur and Palakkad as well as at Perambur near Chennai.

Trains getting delayed
Passengers have been urging the railway authorities to announce special trains as soon as possible, as tickets are likely to sell out quickly during the Onam season. Special trains are usually announced only at the last moment during the festival seasons, often causing confusion and anxiety. So, rail travellers are demanding that the festival special trains be announced as soon as possible to avoid a last-minute rush.      

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