Island Express (train)

The Island Express is an Indian Railways train running between Bangalore and Kanyakumari. Train# 16526 runs from Bangalore to Kanyakumari, and Train# 16525 runs in the reverse direction. The train runs daily via Coimbatore, and covers the 944 km route in about 20 hours.

No part of the train's route is presently on an island; the name was given because the predecessor of this train used to end its journey at the Cochin Harbour Terminus station in Willingdon Island, Cochin till the mid 1970s. At that time, it was the only train that connected Bangalore (Karnataka state) to Kerala.

Later this train became Nagarcoil Express after the gauge conversion between Ernakulam and Trivandrum in the mid-1970s and a new Broad Gauge line to Nagercoil from Trivandrum was commissioned in 1979. Subsequently, it was extended to Kanniyakumari.

Island Express also experienced a horrible accident while on its way to Nagercoil in July 1988 when a large number of its coaches fell into the lake Ashtamudi Kayal while crossing the railway bridge. 105 people lost their lives (Peruman railway accident). It also met with another accident at Kuppam in May 1967. The train, which left Bangalore at 6 p.m., did not stop at the Railway Station and went on to hit the buffers at the end of the loop line around 9 p.m. Several lives were lost.

This is one of the best trains to travel from Bangalore if you wish to enjoy the scenic beauty of Kerala and the bordering Tamil Nadu. The early morning departure from Coimbatore to the arrival in Palghat is one of the best parts of the journey with the train running right through national forest region allowing you to catch a glimpse of various wild animals.

Timings

This train leaves Bangalore at 21:40 hours to reach Kanyakumari at 19:00 hours the next day. This was the only daily train between Bangalore and Kerala until early 2006. For the return trip, this train leaves Kanyakumari at 10:30 hours to reach Bangalore at 6:55 AM.

Route

Presently, this train runs through Bangalore City, Bangalore Cantonment, Bangalore East(16526 does not stop.Only 16525 stops), Krishnarajapuram, Whitefield, Malur, Bangarapet Junction, Kuppam, Tirupattur, Salem Junction, Erode Junction, Tiruppur, Coimbatore Junction, Palakkad Junction, Ottapalam, Wadakanchery, Thrissur, Pudukkad, Irinjalakuda, Chalakudi, Angamali for Kaladi, Alwaye, Ernakulam Town, Piravom Road, Kottayam,(Pilgrims to Sabarimala can alight here) Changanassery, Tiruvalla, Chengannur(Pilgrims to Sabarimala can alight here) Mavelikkara, Kayamkulam Jn, Karunagappalli, Sasthamkotta, Quilon JN, Paravur, Varkala (Tourists headed to Varkala Papanasham Beach alight here), Kadakkavur, Chirayankeezh, Trivandrum Pettah(Only 16526 stops. 16525 does not stop), Trivandrum Central, Neyyattinkara, Dhanuvachapuram(Only 16526 stops. 16525 does not stop), Parassala, Kulithurai West(Only 16526 stops. 16525 does not stop), Kulitthurai, Palliyadi(Only 16526 stops. 16525 does not stop), Eraniel, Nagercoil JN, Kanyakumari

When this train was introduced it ran via Jolarpet (between Kuppam and Tirupattur) to Aluva and on to Ernakulam Junction and finally Cochin Harbour Terminus on Willingdon Island.

Due to the extension to Trivandrum, the train now stops at Ernakulam Town. The Jolarpet stop got eliminated when the bypass line was commissioned.

Briefly, this train also ran on a different route via Hosur from Bangalore to Salem and vice-versa from August 1998 to August 2004.

Sabarimala Pilgrimage

Pilgrims travelling to Sabarimala from Bangalore can travel in this train. They need to alight at Chengannur. Many KSRTC buses ply from Chengannur railway station to Pampa. The distance from Chengannur railway station to Sabarimala is about 95 kilometers.

Coaches

Island express has 22 coaches in it which includes 13 sleeper class coaches(S1-S13), Two AC 3 tier coaches(B1,B2), Two AC 2 tier coaches(A1,A2),and the rest being unreserved general coaches that includes a ladies coach.

Bookings

Passengers willing to travel in Island express better need to book their tickets on the day of booking opening 90 days in advance because this train is fully packed the entire year, especially during weekends.

This is a slow train with many station stops making it a good passenger train. You can increase your chances of getting tickets if you opt to travel on weekdays between Monday through Wednesday if you are booking just days in advance.

External links

• Island Express Route Map