Dhanbad Express to be extended to Thiruvananthapuram: How it will benefit passengers

The Dhanbad-Alappuzha Express, (train no.s 13351 / 13352), the daily long-distance train of the East Central Railway zone, will soon be extended to Thiruvananthapuram. It will plug a nearly four-hour gap in afternoon train services to Thiruvananthapuram, offering much-needed relief to passengers from Alappuzha.

Currently, the Netravati Express leaves Alappuzha at 1.50 pm, while the next daily train to Thiruvananthapuram, the Ernad Express, departs only at 5.48 pm. Passengers arriving at Alappuzha on the Dhanbad Express, which terminates there at 3.15 pm, must either wait for the 5.35 pm Kollam MEMU or take the Mangaluru-Thiruvananthapuram Ernad Express to continue their journey towards Ambalappuzha, Haripad, Kayamkulam and Kollam.

The extension will add a daytime service to Thiruvananthapuram for passengers from Palakkad, Thrissur, Ernakulam and Alappuzha. In the return direction, the Dhanbad Express will provide an early-morning connection from the capital towards Ernakulam, Palakkad and Coimbatore.

Coimbatore-bound passengers from southern Kerala currently depend mainly on the Sabari Express, which leaves Thiruvananthapuram at 6.45 am and reaches Coimbatore at 2 pm. The Dhanbad Express is expected to reach Palakkad at 10.30 am and Coimbatore at 12.15 pm, providing an earlier arrival.

The Railways is expected to announce the revised timetable for the Dhanbad Express up to Thiruvananthapuram North shortly. The train is likely to have stops at Ambalappuzha, Haripad, Karunagappally, Kollam and Varkala.