Cyclone Nivar: Train services to these cities cancelled by Southern Railway; check routes affected and refund details

Ahead of Cyclone Nivar, the Southern Railway on Wednesday fully cancelled a total of 20 trains over a period of three days till November 28, barring November 27.

In view of the Cyclone Nivar in three states of southern India, the Southern Railway on Wednesday fully cancelled a total of 20 trains over a period of three days till November 28, barring November 27.

The Southern Railway has announced the cancellation of several special train services to destinations that are likely to be affected by unprecedented rains/cyclonic landfall and to other destinations due to operational difficulties.

The severe cyclonic storm Nivar over southwest Bay of Bengal moved west-northwestwards with a speed of 11 kmph during past six hours and lay centred over southwest Bay of Bengal about 240 km east-southeast of Cuddalore, about 250 km east southeast of Puducherry and 300 km south southeast of Chennai.

It is very likely to intensify further into a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm during next 06 hours. It is very likely to move west northwestwards and cross Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts between Karaikal and Mamallapuram around Puducherry during mid-night of 25th and early hours of 26th November 2020 as a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm with a wind speed of 120-130 kmph gusting to 145 kmph.

Refund: For the trains fully cancelled by Railways a full refund of fare will be granted on ticket cancellations. The time limit for availing refunds has also been extended to six months from the date of journey.

For PRS counter tickets, refunds across the counter can be availed on submission of tickets at the counters up to six months from the date of the scheduled departure of the train. Auto refund facility is available for tickets booked online.

For trains cancelled partially, passengers can avail full refund for the untraveled portion until six months from the date of the scheduled departure of the train. Auto refund facility is available for tickets booked online

Two trains have been fully cancelled for Wednesday, 17 for November 26 (Thursday) and one for November 28 (Saturday). 

Fully cancelled trains:

* Trains cancelled on November 25:

1) Train No.06011 Kanniyakumari - Nizamuddin Special train

2) Train No.05119 Rameswaram - Manduadih Special Train

* Eight pairs of trains/ 17 trains fully cancelled on November 26:

1) Train No 02675/02676 Dr MGR Chennai Central-Coimbatore-Dr MGR Chennai Central special trains

2) Train No 06027/06028 Dr MGR Chennai Central-Coimbatore-Dr MGR Chennai Central special trains

3) Train No 06075 / 06076 Dr MGR Chennai Central-KSR Bengaluru-Dr MGR Chennai Central special trains

4) Train No 02680/02679 Coimbatore-Dr MGR Chennai Central-Coimbatore special trains

5) Train No 02608/02607 KSR Bengaluru-Dr MGR Chennai Central-KSR Bengaluru Special Trains

6) Train No 06057 Dr MGR Chennai Central-Tirupati and Train No 06008 Tirupati-Dr MGR Chennai Central special trains

7) Train No 02606 Karaikkudi-Chennai Egmore-Karaikkudi Specials

8) Train No 02636/02635 Madurai-Chennai Egmore-Madurai Specials

9) Train No 06795/06796 Chennai Egmore - Tiruchchirappalli - Chennai Egmore Specials

* Trains cancelled on November 28:

1) Train No 06012 Nizamuddin-Kanniyakumari Special train

Partially cancelled trains on November 25-26:

1) Train No.06232 Mysuru-Mayiladuthurai Special of November 25 is partially cancelled between Tiruchchirappalli and Mayiladuthurai and will run between Mysuru and Tiruchchirappalli.

2) Train No.06188 Ernakulam-Karaikkal Special of November 25 is partially cancelled between Tiruchchirappalli and Karaikkal and will run between Ernakulam and Tiruchchirappalli.

3) Train No.06231 Mayiladuthurai-Mysuru Special of November 26 is partially cancelled between Mayiladuthurai and Tiruchchirappalli and will run between Tiruchchirappalli and Mysuru

4) Train No.06187 Karaikkal - Ernakulam Special of November 26 is partially cancelled between Karaikkal and Tiruchchirappalli and will run from Tiruchchirappalli to Ernakulam.

5) Train No.02084/02083 Coimbatore - Mayiladuthurai - Coimbatore Jan Shatabdi Specials of November 26 are partially cancelled between Tiruchchirappalli and Mayiladuthurai and will run between Coimbatore and Tiruchchirappalli.

Steps taken by Railways: Emergency Control cell has been set up in the control offices of both headquarters and divisions. This is being manned round the clock by senior officials to monitor the situation and they will co-ordinate with the state government officials wherever required.

Instructions have been issued to all the field units, especially those at the districts which are on high alert, to be in readiness with full complements of tools, spares, accessories that are required for the restoration of traffic. Monsoon reserve trains loaded with rail, sleepers and other tools and also tower wagons loaded with all material required for restoring train operations are kept fully prepared.

It has also been communicated to the field units that, as soon as the threat of cyclone is apparent, all the boom barriers at the level crossing gates are to be kept in closed condition to prevent damage to the booms, duly informing the District Collectors concerned.

Roof shelters in the platforms at the stations have been checked and fastened with due care. Hoardings at the stations and midsections in the area which are on high alert have been removed, wherever feasible, to reduce any damage.