The Railway Board has officially announced the regularization of the Jabalpur-Coimbatore train service, transitioning it from a special train status to a permanent, scheduled service. This move is part of a wider initiative by the national transporter to regularize nine special trains, including four Amrit Bharat services, to streamline operations and provide more reliable travel options for passengers.
- Train No. 20160 (Jabalpur to Coimbatore) will operate regularly every Friday starting October 23.
- Train No. 20159 (Coimbatore to Jabalpur) will commence its regular schedule every Monday starting October 26.
- The service will maintain its extensive route covering key stations across West Central Railway, Central Railway, Konkan Railway, and Southern Railway.
Route and Stoppages
Within the West Central Railway zone, the train will continue to serve passengers at Narsinghpur, Gadarwara, Pipariya, Itarsi, and Harda. Beyond this, the train follows a significant route that includes major halts such as Khandwa, Bhusaval, Nashik Road, Panvel, Roha, Chiplun, Ratnagiri, Madgaon Junction, Karwar, Udupi, Mangaluru Junction, Kannur, Kozhikode, and Palakkad Junction, ensuring connectivity across the Konkan coast and South India.
Background and Operational History
This transition follows a series of administrative updates regarding the train’s tenure. Previously, the service operated under the numbers 02198 and 02197, with an extension granted on January 16, 2026, to keep the train running until December 27, 2030. Furthermore, the schedule had been subjected to partial modifications on June 13, 2026, specifically to manage operational adjustments required during the monsoon season within the Konkan Railway jurisdiction.
By regularizing this service, the Indian Railways aims to provide long-term certainty for commuters traveling between Madhya Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. Passengers are advised to check the official IRCTC website or the NTES app for the latest booking availability and updated timings as the new permanent schedule comes into effect.