Indian Railway Train Timings, Schedules & Station Information

TrueTamil.in's Railways section lets you search train schedules, find trains between two stations, and look up station codes across the Indian Railways network. Information is based on the published Indian Railways timetable and is intended as a quick reference tool for passengers planning their journeys.

About Indian Railways

Indian Railways is one of the largest railway networks in the world, operating over 13,000 passenger trains daily and serving more than 8,000 stations across the country. Managed by the Ministry of Railways, Government of India, it is divided into 18 railway zones, each responsible for a specific geographic region.

For passengers in Tamil Nadu, the most relevant zone is Southern Railway (SR), headquartered in Chennai. Key divisions under Southern Railway include Chennai, Tiruchirappalli, Madurai, Salem, and Palakkad. Many intercity trains connecting Chennai to Coimbatore, Madurai, Tirunelveli, Nagercoil, and Bangalore fall under this zone.

Types of Trains in India

Indian Railways operates several categories of trains suited to different journey needs:

• Rajdhani Express — Premium fully air-conditioned trains connecting major cities to New Delhi. Highest priority on the network.
• Shatabdi & Vande Bharat Express — Fast intercity day trains with AC chair car seating. Vande Bharat (Train 18) is India's modern semi-high speed train, with services from Chennai to Coimbatore, Mysuru, and other routes.
• Superfast Express (SF) — Trains with an average speed above 55 km/h, connecting major cities with fewer stops.
• Mail / Express trains — The most common long-distance trains, covering all major routes and stopping at more stations.
• Passenger & DEMU trains — Slow trains stopping at every station, primarily used for short intra-district journeys.
• EMU / Suburban trains — Electric multiple unit trains for urban commute, such as the Chennai Beach–Tambaram–Chengalpattu suburban network.

How to Use This Railway Search Tool

• Search for Train — Enter a train number (e.g., 12163) or train name (e.g., Chennai Express) to view its schedule, stops, and running days.
• Trains Between Stations — Enter your origin and destination station codes to see all trains available between those two stations.
• Search for Station — Find station codes (e.g., MAS for Chennai Central, MDU for Madurai Junction) needed for booking tickets or checking schedules.

Select one of the search tools below to get started.

Frequently Asked Questions about Indian Railways

How accurate are the train timings shown here?
Train schedules on TrueTamil.in are based on the official Indian Railways timetable data. However, actual arrival and departure times can vary due to seasonal rescheduling, special train additions, or temporary diversions. Always confirm your train's current running status on the NTES (National Train Enquiry System) portal or the official IRCTC website before travel.

What is a train's running days?
Running days indicate on which days of the week a train operates. For example, "Daily" means it runs every day, while "Mon, Wed, Fri" means it only departs on those three days. Always check the running days before planning your journey, as missing this detail is a common travel mistake.

What is a station code and why do I need it?
Every railway station in India has a unique 2–5 letter code assigned by Indian Railways. For example, Chennai Central is MAS, Madurai Junction is MDU, Coimbatore Junction is CBE, and Tiruchirappalli Junction is TPJ. You need these codes when booking tickets on IRCTC or when searching for trains between stations.

Can I check live running status or PNR here?
Live train running status and PNR status require real-time data from Indian Railways servers. For live updates, visit the official Indian Railways NTES portal or use the IRCTC website for PNR status.

How many railway zones does India have?
India currently has 18 railway zones. These include Central, Eastern, East Central, East Coast, Northern, North Central, North Eastern, Northeast Frontier, North Western, Southern, South Central, South East Central, South Eastern, South Western, Western, West Central, Metro Railway Kolkata, and South Coast Railway (the newest zone, headquartered in Visakhapatnam).