Southern Railway expands services across South India

Key among the new introductions were the Amrit Bharat Express trains, designed to link the southern tip of the country with eastern and northern India. Specific routes mentioned include the Jalpaiguri-Nagercoil and New Jalpaiguri-Tiruchirappalli Amrit Bharat Expresses, launched in January 2026, and the Podanur-Dhanbad Amrit Bharat Express, flagged off in March 2026.

For local commuters, Southern Railway launched several Mainline Electric Multiple Unit (MEMU) services. These include the Salem-Erode MEMU (November 2025), Palakkad-Pollachi MEMU (March 2026), and Kollam-Ernakulam MEMU (March 2026), aimed at providing affordable, frequent, short-haul connectivity.

Furthermore, existing train services were extended to reach underserved areas. The Thiruvananthapuram-Madurai Amrita Express was extended to Rameswaram from October 2025, enhancing access to the island town. The Mangaluru Central-Kozhikode Express was extended to Palakkad from March 2026, and the KSR Bengaluru-Kannur Express was extended to Kozhikode, establishing a direct Bengaluru-Malabar link.

Frequency enhancements were also a focus, with the Tirupati-Rameswaram Express upgraded from tri-weekly to four days a week starting March 2026. Passenger trains between Tiruchirapalli and Karaikudi, and between Karaikudi and Virudhunagar, transitioned to daily services.

In addition to new services and extensions, Southern Railway added new stoppages at over 150 stations across Tamil Nadu and Kerala during the financial year, covering various corridors and routes.