Southern Railway MEMU and DEMU Special Trains List
Southern Railway Operation of MEMU / DEMU Special Trains with Mail / Express Unreserved Booking
Railway Board has permitted running of the following MEMU / DEMU (Mainline Electrical Multiple Units / Diesel Electrical Multiple Units) Special trains with Mail / Express unreserved ticket booking with effect from various dates as detailed under :-
| T.No. | From / To | Dep (in hrs) / Arr (in hrs) | Frequency / With effect from |
| 06009 | Mettupalayam / Coimbatore | 08.20 / 09.05 | Ex. Sundays / 15.03.21 |
| 06010 | Coimbatore / Mettupalayam | 17.55 / 18.40 | Ex. Sundays / 15.03.21 |
| 06121 | Vridhachalam / Salem | 06.00 / 09.05 | Ex. Sundays / 15.03.21 |
| 06122 | Salem / Vridhachalam | 18.00/ 21.00 | Ex. Sundays / 15.03.21 |
| 06124 | Karur / Trichy | 07.20 / 09.20 | Daily / 16.03.21 |
| 06123 | Trichy / Karur | 18.10 / 20.20 | Daily / 15.03.21 |
| 06014 | Kollam / Alleppey | 03.30 / 05.45 | Ex. Sundays / 15.03.21 |
| 06013 | Alleppey / Kollam | 17.20 / 19.25 | Ex. Sundays / 17.03.21 |
| 06016 | Alleppey / Ernakulam | 07.25 / 09.00 | Ex. Sundays / 15.03.21 |
| 06015 | Ernakulam / Alleppey | 15.40 / 17.15 | Ex. Sundays / 17.03.21 |
| 06018 | Ernakulam / Shoranur | 17.35 / 20.50 | Ex. Sundays / 15.03.21 |
| 06017 | Shoranur / Ernaklulam | 03.30 / 06.50 | Ex. Sundays / 17.03.21 |
| 06023 | Shoranur / Kannur | 04.30 / 09.10 | Ex. Sundays / 16.03.21 |
| 06024 | Kannur / Shoranur | 17.20 / 22.55 | Ex. Sundays / 16.03.21 |
| 06025 | Chennai Egmore / Puducherry | 06.35 / 11.10 | Daily / 22.03.21 |
| 06026 | Puducherry / Chennai Egmore | 15.35 / 20.25 | Daily / 22.03.21 |
| 06027 | Tambaram / Villupuram | 18.00 / 21.05 | Ex. Saturdays / 01.04.21 |
| 06028 | Villupuram / Tambaram | 05.20 / 08.30 | Ex. Sundays / 02.04.21 |
| 06125 | Trichy / Karaikkudi | 18.15 / 20.05 | Daily / 15.03.21 |
| 06126 | Karaikkudi / Trichy | 07.00 / 09.05 | Daily / 16.03.21 |
Here’s the latest verified list of Southern Railway’s MEMU and DEMU Unreserved Special Trains (2025), primarily run to manage high passenger demand during festivals like Thai Poosam and Pongal:
🚆 Special MEMU/DEMU Trains — Southern Railway (2025)
1. Pongal Festival Specials: Chennai Egmore ↔ Madurai MEMU Express
- Train No. 06061 (Chennai Egmore → Madurai)
- Departs: Jan 18, 2025 at 10:45 AM
- Arrives: 19:15 PM same day
- Route includes: Tambaram, Chengalpattu, Villupuram, Trichy, Dindigul, Madurai
- Train No. 06062 (Madurai → Chennai Egmore)
- Departs: Jan 19 at 16:00 PM
- Arrives: 00:45 AM next day
- Coach: 8‑car MEMU, fully unreserved
Also, Train No. 06164 (Madurai → Chennai Egmore) ran on Jan 15 at 19:15 PM arriving around 03:20 AM next day.
2. Thai Poosam Festival MEMU Special: Coimbatore ↔ Dindigul
- Train No. 06106 (Coimbatore → Dindigul):
- Departs 9:35 AM, arrives 13:10 PM, daily from Feb 5 to 14 (except Sundays)
- Return: 06107 (Dindigul → Coimbatore):
- Departs 14:00 PM, arrives 17:50 PM same day
- Coach: 8-car MEMU, unreserved, with halts at Podanur, Kinathukadavu, Pollachi, Palani, etc.
3. Pournami Girivalam MEMU Special: Villupuram ↔ Tiruvannamalai
- Train No. 06132 (Tiruvannamalai → Villupuram):
- Departs May 12 at 03:30 AM, arrives 05:00 AM
- Train No. 06131 (Villupuram → Tiruvannamalai):
- Departs May 11 at 21:15 PM, arrives May 12 at 22:45 PM
- Distance: ~67 km, unreserved, MEMU rake for Pournami pilgrimage traffic
4. Regular Special DEMU Services
- Train No. 06122 – Salem → Vriddhachalam DEMU Special (6 days/week)
- Train No. 06123 – Tiruchchirappalli → Karur DEMU Special (daily)
- These services have revised timings since March 15, 2025, and operate as unreserved DEMU specials to ease late-evening commute
📋 Summary Table
| Festival/Route | Train Nos | Dates/Period | Service Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chennai Egmore → Madurai (Pongal) | 06061 / 06062 | Jan 18–19 | MEMU Unreserved |
| Madurai → Chennai Egmore (Pongal extra) | 06164 | Jan 15–19 | MEMU Unreserved |
| Coimbatore ↔ Dindigul (Thai Poosam) | 06106 / 06107 | Feb 5–14 (except Sun) | MEMU Unreserved |
| Villupuram ↔ Tiruvannamalai (Pournami) | 06131 / 06132 | May 11–12 | MEMU Unreserved |
| Salem ↔ Vriddhachalam (Daily DEMU) | 06122 | Daily (6‑days/week) | DEMU Unreserved |
| Tiruchchirappalli ↔ Karur (Daily DEMU) | 06123 | Daily | DEMU Unreserved |
❗ Key Insights & Passenger Feedback
- These are entirely unreserved special trains, ideal for festival rush and local pilgrim traffic; no reservations required or allowed.
- MEMU rakes are typically 8 coaches long; some routes have been upgraded to 12-car configurations for added capacity.
- Community reports show that Southern Railway occasionally treats MEMU trains as substitute general services, especially during events like Diwali—demonstrating flexibility in service deployment.
- However, reliability is mixed:
“Southern Railway is a huge joke… started cutting service on some routes despite demand.”
− Reddit traveler commentary on service adjustment frustration.
✅ Recommendations
- Plan to arrive early at boarding stations, as unreserved MEMU trains fill quickly during festivals.
- Use NTES or RailMadad to confirm live running status—festive services may be rescheduled or extended.
- For longer trips, consider reserved express options, but expect higher fares and less flexibility.
- If you’re planning travel during Rath Yatra, Pongal, or Pournami pilgrimages, take advantage of these special MEMU offerings—they reduce overcrowding on regular trains and improve access.
Would you like a station-wise halt list or times for any of the listed trains, or help identifying nearby weekdays with possible MEMU specials?
Southern Railway MEMU and DEMU Special Trains List