Why no navaratri special trains to Kozhikode?

Coming home to celebrate the Navaratri holidays would be difficult for Kozhikode natives this time as the railways haven’t announced any special trains to the region for the season. The ticket booking status was shown as ‘waiting list’ in most trains from and to Thiruvananthapuram, Bengaluru, and Chennai until Tuesday(September 23) at noon. Now, Tatkal booking is the only way to grab confirmed tickets in these trains.

The reservation for AC First Class tickets in the Yeshwanthpur – Kannur Express (16527) from Bengaluru to Kozhikode on September 26 has been stopped. Meanwhile, the tickets in all the other classes are also on the waiting list. Sleeper reservations have been stopped on this train as of September 27, while tickets in other classes are also on the waiting list. The tickets in all the classes in this train are on the waiting list on September 28 and 29.

All the tickets are on the waiting list on September 28 in the Yashvanthpur – Mangaluru weekly express train (16565). Meanwhile, reservations have been completed in the sleeper class and first AC compartments in the Yeshvanthpur – Kannur Express on September 30. Tickets in other classes are also on the waiting list. Reservation is not available in this train from October 1 to 5; all the tickets are on the waiting list. 

Reserved tickets are mostly on the waiting list in Kannur – Yeshvanthpur Express (16528) in the Kozhikode – Bengaluru route from September 26 to October 9. Meanwhile, reservations have already been completed in some classes on this train. Reservation is not available in any classes on October 5. Tickets to all classes are on the waiting list in the Mangaluru – Bengaluru weekly express (16566) on October 6.

No tickets to Chennai
Reservation is almost complete in all four trains on the Chennai – Kozhikode route. Tickets in all classes are on the waiting list in the Chennai – Mangaluru Superfast (12685), West Coast Express (22637) and Egmore Express (16159) on September 26. Meanwhile, sleeper and third AC tickets are on the waiting list, and reservations are not available in the second AC compartments in the Chennai Mail (12601). Tickets in all classes are already on the waiting list for this train on September 27, 28, 30, as well as on October 1.

Tickets in a few classes in these four trains are available on the RAC category on October 2, 3 and 4. It is the same in the Kozhikode – Chennai route too. All the tickets are either on the waiting list or reservation isn’t available in any classes in the Mangaluru – Chennai Superfast, Egmore Express and the Chennai Mail from September 27 to October 5.

Ticket shortage in Thiruvananthapuram route
Out of the 13 trains that operate during day and night in the Kozhikode – Thiruvananthapuram route, seats were available only in the Sampark Kranti Express on September 26 until Tuesday (September 23) noon. Tickets in various classes are on the waiting list in Ernad Express, Parasuram, Malabar Express, Mangaluru Express and Maveli Express, as well as Jan Shatabdi and the Vande Bharat trains. Meanwhile, reservations have been completed in some classes. The same could be said about the Netravati Express via Konkan, Veraval Express and the weekly special Lokmanya Tilak. Tickets in all the trains except the ones via Konkan region are on the waiting list on September 27, 28 and 30 as well as on October 1 and 5.

Meanwhile, all classes of tickets in all the trains in the Thiruvananthapuram – Kozhikode route are on the waiting list on September 27 and 28. All classes of tickets are either on the waiting list or reservation is not available in the trains, except the Kannur Jan Shatabdi Express, Mangaluru Vande Bharat and Sampark Kranti Express, on September 29. It is the same in all the trains, except the Kozhikode Jan Shatabdi, on September 30. Meanwhile, the current reservation status states that it is extremely difficult to get confirmed or RAC tickets in most trains on these routes from October 1 to 5.

Private buses hike ticket fares
Private buses running on the Bengaluru–Kozhikode route have doubled their ticket fares, taking advantage of the severe shortage of train tickets. Usually, the bus ticket on this route costs Rs 1000. However, now, it has gone up to Rs 2000 – 2300. Ticket fares are shown as Rs 3000 in some AC deluxe buses.