The Railway Board has approved several changes to train services in the Southern Railway Zone, effective from July 2024. These include the introduction of a new bi-weekly express train between Tuticorin and Mettupalayam, the extension of services for three MEMU trains running between Coimbatore and Mettupalayam to Podanur, the addition of...
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a stop at Samalpatti for the Coimbatore – Tirupati Express, the extension of services for the Mysuru – Mayiladuthurai Express to Cuddalore Port, and the increase in frequency of the Mayiladuthurai – Trichy Express from 5 days a week to daily. The Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs, Dr L. Murugan, will flag off these changes at a function in Mettupalayam on July 19th, 2024. The new Tuticorin – Mettupalayam Bi-Weekly Express (Train No. 16766 / 16765) will commence regular service on July 20th, 2024, departing Tuticorin at 22.50 hrs on Thursdays and Saturdays and reaching Mettupalayam at 07.40 hrs on Fridays and Sundays. The return journey, Train No. 16765 Mettupalayam – Tuticorin, will depart Mettupalayam at 19.35 hrs on Fridays and Sundays, arriving in Tuticorin at 04.20 hrs on Saturdays and Mondays. The train will stop at Coimbatore, Kinathukadavu, Pollachi, Udumalaipet, Palani, Oddanchatram, Dindigul, Madurai, Virudunagar, Sattur, and Kovilpatti in both directions. The extension of services for the three MEMU trains (Train Nos. 06009 / 06812, 06815 / 06816, and 06822 / 06823) to Podanur Jn will also commence on July 20th, 2024. The Coimbatore – Tirupati Express (Train No. 22615 / 22616) will have a stop at Samalpatti Railway Station from July 22nd, 2024. The inaugural service of the extended Mysuru – Mayiladuthurai Express (Train No. 16231 / 16232) to Cuddalore Port will be remotely flagged off by Dr L. Murugan through video conferencing from Mettupalayam at 10.55 hrs on July 19th, 2024. Regular service on the extended route will commence from July 19th, 2024. Finally, the Mayiladuthurai – Trichy Express (Train Nos. 16233 / 16234) has been renumbered as Train Nos. 16833 / 16834 and its frequency increased from 5 days a week to daily, effective from July 20th, 2024.

Due to traffic congestion in the Guntakal Division on the Tirupati - Katpadi railway line, several train services have been impacted. From May 27th to 30th, 2024, six trains (numbers 07581, 07660, 07659, 07582, 06417, and 06418) have been completely canceled. Additionally, six other trains (numbers 22616, 22617, 22618, 22615,...
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16854, and 16853) are partially canceled between Katpadi and Tirupati on specific dates: 27th, 28th, 29th, and 30th of May. Finally, six trains (numbers 12836, 12890, 07191, 12626, 17210, and 16734) are being diverted through alternate routes on various dates in May. The diverted routes include stops at Katpadi, Melpakkam, Renigunta, Dhone, and Gooty.

The South Central Railway has announced the cancellation and diversion of several trains due to a traffic block on the Tirupati-Katpadi section in the Guntakal division. Several trains, including the Tirupati-Katpadi trains (07581), (07660), (07659), (07582), and the Katpadi-Jolarpettai-Katpadi trains (06417), (06418) are canceled from May 27th to 30th. ...
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Additionally, the Coimbatore-Tirupati (22616), Tirupati-SMVT Bangalore (22617), and Katpadi-Tirupati trains are partially canceled on May 28th and 30th. Furthermore, the SMVT Bangalore-Tirupati (22618), Tirupati-Coimbatore-Tirupati (22615), Villupuram-Tirupati (16854), and Tirupati-Villupuram (16853) are partially canceled between Katpadi and Tirupati on May 27th, 29th, and 30th. The SMVT Bangalore-Hatia (12836) and SMVT Bangalore-Tatanagar (12890) are being diverted via Katpadi, Melpakkam, and Renigunta on May 28th and 27th, respectively. The Kacheguda-Madurai (07191) is being diverted via Don, Guntti, Renigunta, Melpakkam, and Katpadi on May 27th. Finally, the New Delhi-Trivandrum (12626), Okha-Rameswaram (16734), and Kakinada Town-SMVT Bangalore (17210) are being diverted via Renigunta, Melpakkam, and Katpadi on May 28th, 29th, and 29th, respectively.

A Coimbatore-based member of the Zonal Railway Users’ Consultative Committee (ZRUCC) has opposed the Railways’ decision to extend the Coimbatore-Bengaluru Uday Express (train no. 22665/6) to Palakkad. He argues that extending the Thiruvananthapuram-Madurai Amrita Express (train no. 16343/44) via Coimbatore would provide better connectivity for both Tamil Nadu and Kerala, benefiting...
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a larger number of people. He highlights the lack of early morning connectivity to Palani and Madurai from Coimbatore and proposes two alternatives: re-routing the Amrita Express via Coimbatore or converting the Uday Express into an overnight express train with additional coach facilities.