Mangaluru: Railway authorities have announced temporary regulation of several long-distance trains in March 2026 to facilitate track maintenance works in the Thiruvananthapuram railway division.
According to an official release, multiple trains passing through or originating from various parts of the country and heading towards Kerala will experience delays ranging from 30 minutes to one hour on specified dates.
Passengers have been advised to check the latest running status of their respective trains before commencing their journey.
Mangaluru–Thiruvananthapuram Express delayed
Train No. 16348 Mangaluru Central–Thiruvananthapuram Central Express, departing from Mangaluru Central railway station, will be regulated by one hour on March 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14 and 15, 2026.
The train operates between Mangaluru and Thiruvananthapuram Central railway station and is widely used by passengers travelling between coastal Karnataka and southern Kerala.
Other trains to face 30-minute regulation
Train No. 16337 Okha–Ernakulam Junction Bi-Weekly Express, departing from Okha railway station on March 2, 7, 9 and 14, 2026, will be regulated by 30 minutes en route.
Similarly, Train No. 19260 Bhavnagar Terminus–Thiruvananthapuram North Weekly Express, commencing its journey from Bhavnagar Terminus railway station on March 3 and 10, 2026, will be regulated by 30 minutes.
Train No. 16333 Veraval–Thiruvananthapuram Central Weekly Express, departing from Veraval railway station on March 5 and 12, 2026, will also be delayed by 30 minutes.
Likewise, Train No. 16335 Gandhidham BG–Nagercoil Junction Weekly Express, leaving Gandhidham BG railway station on March 6 and 13, 2026, will be regulated by 30 minutes.
Superfast trains from Delhi affected
Train No. 22656 Hazrat Nizamuddin–Ernakulam Junction Weekly Superfast Express, commencing from Hazrat Nizamuddin railway station on March 6 and 13, 2026, will be regulated by 35 minutes.
Similarly, Train No. 22654 Hazrat Nizamuddin–Thiruvananthapuram Central Weekly Superfast Express, departing from Hazrat Nizamuddin on March 2 and 9, 2026, will also face a 35-minute regulation en route.
These trains connect northern and western parts of India with Kerala and are frequently used by long-distance travellers, including migrant workers and tourists.
Maintenance work in Thiruvananthapuram division
Railway officials stated that the temporary regulation has been necessitated to carry out essential track maintenance works in the Thiruvananthapuram railway division. Such works are undertaken periodically to ensure passenger safety, improve track conditions and maintain operational efficiency.
Authorities clarified that the trains are not cancelled but will be controlled or delayed en route to accommodate maintenance blocks.
Passengers are advised to verify updated train timings through official railway enquiry systems and plan their travel accordingly to avoid inconvenience.
Conclusion
While the short-term delays may cause minor inconvenience to passengers, railway authorities emphasised that regular maintenance is crucial for ensuring safe and smooth train operations. Services are expected to return to normal once the scheduled works are completed.