Trains 16377 and 16378 Get an Experimental Stop at Ottappalam

From 15 October 2026, two daily trains between Bengaluru and Ernakulam stop at Ottappalam. The Railways describe the stop as experimental. Hindustan Times reports that the change was announced in a South Western Railway press release dated 22 September, and that the first stop drew a crowd of party workers at the station on Thursday, 15 October.

We could not find the South Western Railway notice itself, so the times below are as Hindustan Times reported them. Confirm them on the train's live status page before you travel.

What changed

Train 16377 now stops at Ottappalam from Bengaluru to Ernakulam, arriving at 2:30 pm and leaving at 2:31 pm. Train 16378 makes the return trip and stops there from Ernakulam, arriving at 10:59 am and leaving at 11:00 am.

Hindustan Times calls 16377 the Bengaluru-Ernakulam Intercity Express. In our timetable, 16377 is the Ernakulam Express and 16378 is the SBC Intercity, so use the number when you search, booking or enquire.

Train details

Our timetable does not list Ottappalam as a stop for either train. The reported times fit the route anyway. Train 16377 leaves Palakkad Junction at 2:05 pm and reaches Thrissur at 3:27 pm, so a 2:30 pm halt falls in that gap. Train 16378 leaves Thrissur at 10:15 am and reaches Palakkad Junction at 11:37 am, so a 10:59 am halt fits there too. The Ottappalam station page lists the trains that already halt there.

Who it affects

The stop helps people who live near Ottappalam and want a direct train to Bengaluru or Ernakulam without going to Palakkad Junction or Thrissur first. For a traveller on 16377, that means leaving Bengaluru at 6:10 am in our timetable and reaching Ottappalam in the early afternoon. For a traveller on 16378, it means a morning start from Ottappalam.

From when, and for how long

The stop started on 15 October 2026, according to the source. The Railways have called it experimental, and the source does not say how long it will last. Treat it as something that can be withdrawn, and check before each trip rather than assuming it runs for good.

What travellers should do

• Check the halt on the day. Open the 16377 live status page or the 16378 live status page and check whether Ottappalam appears among the stops. It may not show yet, because our timetable has not been updated.
• Confirm with 139. The Rail helpline can tell you whether the halt is running.
• Check your reservation. Make sure the station you need is the one on your ticket before you travel. If Ottappalam is not on it, do not plan on boarding or alighting there.
• Arrive early on the first stops. The source says the first stop drew a crowd and that police had to move people off the platform before the train could leave. Allow a few extra minutes at the station.
• Compare options. If the halt is not running on your date, use the trip planner to compare the other Bengaluru to Ernakulam trains and their stops.

What we still do not know

The reports do not say whether the halt will become permanent, whether it will be extended to other trains, or what the official notice lists as the exact stop dates. Our own timetable also does not yet show Ottappalam for either train, which is why the times above come from the source and not from our data. Until an official notice confirms the stop, the live status page and the 139 helpline are the most reliable checks.

For a wider view of how the Kerala route fits into longer trips, see the guide to Kerala backwaters by train. If you are starting from Bengaluru, the Bengaluru city vs Yesvantpur vs SMVT station comparison helps you pick the right departure station. And for how to get warned when your train runs late, see free train delay alerts.