Brace for major train disruptions in Madurai division from July 1–20; key express services to be diverted, short-terminated — check details

Time of India

01-07-2025

Passengers in Madurai Division should anticipate travel disruptions from July 1-20 due to Southern Railway's corridor engineering works. Several long-distance trains will be diverted, short-terminated, or delayed, impacting routes like Coimbatore-Nagercoil Express and Mayiladuturai-Sengottai Express.
CHENNAI: Passengers travelling across Madurai Division will face disruptions from July 1 to 20 as Southern Railway undertakes corridor engineering works, affecting multiple long-distance trains across Tamil Nadu.
From July 3 to 15, the Coimbatore–Nagercoil Express (Train No. 16322) will be short-terminated at Dindigul instead of continuing to Nagercoil. Likewise, the Tiruchchirappalli–Rameswaram Express (16849) will not run beyond Manamadurai on July 7 to 11 and July 14–15. Its return service (16850) from Rameswaram will start from Manamadurai instead of the island terminus on these dates.
Several major express trains are also being diverted via alternate routes to bypass closed sections.
The Mayiladuturai–Sengottai Express (16847), running on July 6, 9, and 13, will skip Madurai and Dindigul, instead travelling through Tiruchchirappalli, Karaikkudi, and Virudhunagar. Additional stops will be provided at Pudukkottai, Devakottai Road, Sivaganga, and Aruppukkottai to accommodate passengers left out by this diversion.
The Shri Vaishno Devi Katra–Tirunelveli Express (16788), running on July 3 and 10, will follow the same diversion route, bypassing Dindigul and Madurai.
The Sengottai–Mayiladuturai Express (16848) faces the longest stretch of disruption, diverted daily between July 1–2, 4–5, and 7–9 and again from July 11–15. It will skip all Madurai-bound stops, running via Virudhunagar and Karaikkudi.
Even premium services like the Kanniyakumari–Howrah Superfast Express (12666) and the Kanniyakumari–Hyderabad Special (07229) will avoid Madurai on July 5, 12 and July 4, 11 respectively.
The Nagercoil–Mumbai CST Express (16352) is diverted on July 20, missing Madurai entirely.
Passengers boarding at Madurai or Dindigul are advised to check alternate options or plan for additional travel, as the diverted trains will stop at Aruppukkottai, Sivaganga, and Karaikkudi instead.
In addition, the Madurai–Kacheguda Special (07192) will depart 1 hour 20 minutes late on July 2 and 9, while the Rameswaram–Charlapalli Special (07696) will be delayed by nearly 10 hours on July 4 and 11.
Southern Railway has advised passengers to verify timings and routes before travel, as engineering blocks continue through mid-July.