In a major boost for rail passengers, the **Southern Railway has announced that the speed of 65 Express, Mail, and passenger trains will be increased starting January 1, 2026, under the new timetable aimed at reducing journey times and enhancing travel efficiency.
According to the official schedule released by Southern Railway, the upgraded timetable includes several changes such as revised departure and arrival times, additional stoppages, extension of services, and permanent additions of coaches to many trains. A key feature is the acceleration of 65 trains, which will now run faster than before, saving passengers travel time ranging from 5 minutes up to 85 minutes on several routes.
Faster Journeys on Major Routes
Under the new schedule:
The Kollam–Tambaram Express will reach its destination 85 minutes earlier than the current schedule.
The Coimbatore–Rameswaram Weekly Express and Cuddalore Port–Mysuru Express will run 55 minutes and 50 minutes faster, respectively.
The Thoothukudi–Chennai Egmore Pearl City Express is set to save 30 minutes on one leg and 15 minutes on its return journey.
Trains like Sengottai–Chennai Egmore Podhigai Express and Chennai Egmore–Guruvayur Express will also reach up to 20 minutes earlier than before.
Other services on regional routes, including passenger trains, will also benefit, with travel times reduced by modest but meaningful margins.
Railway officials attribute the speed enhancements to major infrastructure developments completed in recent years. These include completion of track doubling, full electrification of routes, and upgrades in signalling systems, allowing trains to operate at higher permissible speeds of up to 110 km/h and beyond on many sections.
The revisions come as part of Indian Railways’ broader effort to improve connectivity, punctuality, and passenger comfort by making better use of upgraded network capabilities.
The revised timetable is expected to make long-distance and regional travel more convenient for commuters, tourists, and business travellers alike as trains reach their destinations earlier and provide smoother connections with other services.