A train journey to Kanyakumari – Island Express or Kanyakumari Express (16526)

One of the top 10 train routes to experience in India! That’s what I have read about Island Express or Bangalore – Kanyakumari Express on the Internet. While boarding the train that is numbered 16526 to Kanyakumari from Eranakulam North Railway Station, I was wondering why this train was named as “Island Express” and why this train route was considered by bloggers as one of the top 10 train routes in India.

Why Bangalore – Kanyakumari express is in the favorite list of bloggers?

Though there are no official list of top ten train routes in India, Bangalore – Kanyakumari train route is mentioned in many blogs as one of the top ten train routes to explore in India. It is a popular choice for travelers seeking to explore southern India or visit Kanyakumari from Bangalore.

16526/16525 or Bangalore – Kanyakumari Express runs between KSR Bengaluru in Karnataka and Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu. Kanyakumari, also known as Cape Comorin, is a popular tourist attraction located in the southernmost part of the Indian mainland. It is situated at the confluence of the Arabian Sea, the Bay of Bengal, and the Indian Ocean, making it a unique geographical location. Kanyakumari is renowned for its stunning natural beauty, picturesque landscapes, and cultural significance. It is also a vital destination for pilgrims of Hinduism.

On the other hand, Bangalore, officially known as Bengaluru, is the capital city of the Indian state of Karnataka. It is one of the major cities in India and is known for its thriving IT industry, pleasant climate, and rich cultural heritage.

Not only that the Kanyakumari Express connects Bengaluru to Kanyakumari, it also runs through Kerala. This south Indian is known for its picturesque landscapes, backwaters, and lush greenery. Taking a train trip through Kerala is a fantastic way to explore the state’s beauty.

What are the major downsides of this train journey?

We travelled by this train from Eranakulam Town Railway Station (Eranakulam North) to Kanyakumari. It took almost 8 hours to reach Kanyakumari from Eranakulam and Kanyakumari was its 27th stop. However, from Bengaluru it takes almost 19 hours and has 47 stops to reach Kanyakumari. If you are in a hurry and doesn’t enjoy so many stations in between the journey, this train journey can be a bit unexciting. Moreover, there are trains that covers the same distance connecting Bangalore and Kanyakumari in 15 hours.

Please note that this train has no pantry service. However, nowadays you can book your meal online and it would be provided in the train at selected stations. To be frank, my experience with the food that we ordered online was not that impressive. I had ordered for Egg biriyani, but the food was too bland.

If I tell you that the train lacks cleanliness and the service quality is below average, it wouldn’t be appropriate as Kanyakumari Express is much cleaner than several other trains running in the country. In the recent years Indian Railway is giving some emphasize on compartment maintenance and cleanliness. Yet, I would say that there’s a long way to go.

Why Kanyakumari Express is known as Island Express?

Unexpectedly, there are no reliable accounts of the Island Express’s early beginnings, therefore its precise history is somewhat fuzzy. According to a legend that has been passed down orally, the train that is now known as the Island Express (currently known as Kannya Kumari Express) began operating in the 1940s as a few slip coaches attached to a vintage 562/561 Cochin-Madras Express that left from Cochin Harbour Terminus (CHTS). At Jolarpettai, the slip coaches connected to this would be disengaged and connected to a different train (the Bangalore Mail), which would transport them to Bangalore. After some time had passed, these slip carriages eventually became a separate train known as the 25/26 Cochin-Bangalore-Cochin Island Express.

The Willingdon Island, where the CHTS station is located and where the train’s voyage began, gave rise to the name “Island Express.” The logic is pretty clear – The Express that Goes to an Island. Even though the name of the train is no longer used officially, it has become so widely recognised by the general population. When the train’s final destination was changed from Willington Island to Trivandrum, Nagarcoil, and eventually to CAPE or Kanyakumari, Island was no longer the train’s recognised name on the railways.

The Peruman Tragedy or Peruman Train Accident and the Kanyakumari Express

The Peruman tragedy, also known as the Peruman train accident, refers to a major train accident that took place on November 8, 1988, near Peruman Railway Station in Kerala, India. The incident involved the derailment of the Island Express, which was traveling from Trivandrum (Thiruvananthapuram) to Mangalore.

The train was carrying a large number of passengers, including pilgrims returning from the Sabarimala temple festival. It is estimated that there were around 1,500 passengers on board at the time of the accident. Unfortunately, the derailment resulted in a significant loss of life and injuries.

The exact cause of the Peruman tragedy was determined to be a faulty track switch, which caused the train to derail. As a result, several coaches overturned and suffered severe damage. The accident led to the death of 107 people, and many others were injured.

The Peruman tragedy was a devastating event and one of the most tragic train accidents in the history of Kerala. It highlighted the importance of ensuring proper maintenance and safety measures in railway infrastructure to prevent such accidents in the future.

How to book a ticket on this train?

You can book a ticket on this train from any of the official booking counters by the Indian Railway or from their official website irctc.co.in. There are also third party apps and websites that allows you to book train tickets in India.

You may also love reading about Fort Kochi, another interesting destination in southern India.