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In a significant move for passengers travelling between Odisha and West Bengal, the South Eastern Railway (SER) has announced that the Coromandel Express and Dhauli Express will once again originate and terminate at Howrah station, starting August 25.
The two trains are currently operating from Shalimar Station. For the past three years, as part of a decongestion effort, Coromandel Express and Dhauli Express have been operating and terminating at the Shalimar station.
The change, reported by The Times of India, affects train numbers 12841/12842 Coromandel Express (Howrah–Chennai) and 12821/12822 Dhauli Express (Howrah–Puri). As per the reports, both trains will now return to their original terminal at Howrah.
Complaints Over Shalimar’s Accessibility Prompt Reversal
Though no official reason was cited by the SER, the shift follows numerous complaints from passengers, particularly elderly individuals and patients who found Shalimar station difficult to access.
Many rely on the Coromandel Express to travel to Chennai for medical treatment and faced repeated issues due to the lack of reliable transport options at Shalimar.
The reports also added that despite phased development, Shalimar continues to lag in last-mile connectivity, with limited availability of taxis and feeder services, an issue that Howrah station does not face due to its central location and extensive infrastructure.
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Updated Timings from Howrah Station
With the terminal shift, the revised departure timings are as follows:
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Coromandel Express: Departs Howrah at 3:10 PM, arrives Chennai the next day at 5:00 PM.
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Dhauli Express: Departs Howrah at 9:10 AM, reaches Puri by 6:15 PM.
These changes are expected to offer greater convenience and familiarity to long-time passengers of these routes.
Purushottam Express Also Shifted to Anand Vihar
Earlier this month, the Puri–New Delhi Purushottam Express was diverted from New Delhi Railway Station to Anand Vihar Terminal, following a Railway Board directive dated June 12. The move was part of ongoing efforts to reduce congestion at major stations undergoing redevelopment.
Despite the change in terminal, the route and halt pattern of the Purushottam Express remain unchanged, maintaining its 30-hour journey across 33 key stations, including Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, and Gaya.
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Railway authorities have advised passengers to verify the origin and destination stations of their trains before travel. Notifications will be issued via SMS, public announcements, and display boards to avoid last-minute confusion.
