Regular passenger train services on Karaikal-Peralam BG line to start from May 20

A front view of the Thirunallar railway station building. | An express train and two passenger services will be operated daily on the 23.5 km electrified stretch setting the stage for the resumption of regular services after a gap of nearly 40 years. The section, under the Tiruchi Railway Division, had a metre gauge line that was built years ago and passenger services were suspended in the mid-1980s. Regular services are to be introduced on this section nearly a year after the Commissioner of Railway Safety, Southern Circle, Bengaluru, inspected the electrified new BG line and gave the authorisation for operation of train services on this section in May last week in 2025.A railway official confirmed that three regular train services are to be operated on this section from May 20. The official said a Passenger Reservation System counter would be opened at Thirunallar station on Tuesday. The Tambaram-Karaikal-Tambaram daily express (16175/76) will be rerouted and operated via Karaikal-Peralam section with extension up to Velankanni from May 20. The train will halt at Karaikal, Thirunallar, and Peralam.As per the schedule, the express train from Velankanni will leave at 9.50 p.m. with a two-minute halt at Karaikal and Thirunallar stations and reach Tambaram at 4.35 a.m. The train from Tambaram will leave at 9.30 p.m and reach Velankanni at 4.30 next morning.Daily passenger services will be operated from Velankanni to Mayiladuthurai and back via Karaikal, Thirunallar and Peralam. Similarly, daily passenger services will be operated from Karaikal to Mayiladuthurai via Thirunallar and Peralam.Ever since the BG line was thrown open to traffic last year, only freight trains were run on it. Although special trains were operated only for a day for the Velankanni festival, Nagore Kandoori festival, and the ‘Sani Peyarchi’ festival at Thirunallar, regular services were not operated despite repeated demands from the rail users. The rail users had organised a demonstration at Thirunallar protesting the delay in the resumption of regular services on this section. Published - May 18, 2026 07:57 pm IST