Trains 16377 and 16378 get an experimental stop at Ottappalam
Trains 16377 and 16378 now halt at Ottappalam on an experimental basis from 15 October 2026. Halt timings from the press report, plus what to do.
TrainLiveStatus Desk · Updated · 3 min read
Trains 16377 and 16378, the daily pair between KSR Bengaluru and Ernakulam Junction, now stop at Ottappalam in Palakkad district, Kerala. The stop is experimental and started on 15 October 2026. It was announced in a South Western Railway press release dated 22 September 2026, as reported by PTI and Hindustan Times.
We could not find that release on an official railway website, so the stop times below come from the press report. Treat them as the schedule to confirm on the day, not as a permanent timetable. The report also mentions Southern Railway in connection with the same release, so we cannot say for certain which zone issued it.
What changed
Ottappalam now appears as a halt for both trains. The report calls it an experimental stop. It does not give an end date or say whether the halt will become permanent.
On the first halt on 15 October, a large number of party workers gathered at the station. The report says police moved two groups away from the platform and the train's departure was delayed. If you are boarding at Ottappalam in the first days of the trial, allow extra time at the station.
Train details
| Train | Route | Runs | Ottappalam halt (press report) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16377 | KSR Bengaluru to Ernakulam Jn | Daily | Arrives 2:30 pm, leaves 2:31 pm |
| 16378 | Ernakulam Jn to KSR Bengaluru | Daily | Arrives 10:59 am, leaves 11:00 am |
Our timetable record for 16377 shows a departure from KSR Bengaluru at 6:10 am and an arrival at Ernakulam Junction at 5:10 pm, a journey of 11 hours. Our record for 16378 gives a journey time of 11 hours 55 minutes. Neither record yet lists Ottappalam as a stop, so the halt times in the table are from the press report only.
The two trains have different names in different sources. Hindustan Times calls the pair the Bengaluru-Ernakulam Intercity Express. Our train page for 16377 is titled Ernakulam Express. Check the name and number on your own ticket before you travel.
Who it affects
The change matters most to people who want to board or get off at Ottappalam, and to people in the town who can now board or leave these trains there. The scheduled halt is one minute in each direction, but the report does not say whether the overall journey time changes.
The report describes an added halt. It does not describe any change to the train's route or running days.
What travellers should do
- Check the running status on the day. Open the live status page for 16377 or the page for 16378 before you leave home.
- Use the Ottappalam station board. The Ottappalam station page lists the trains that call there, which helps if you are comparing options.
- Know the boarding-point rule. If you hold a confirmed or RAC ticket and want to board at Ottappalam instead of your original station, you can change the boarding point once, up to 30 minutes before departure. Waitlisted tickets cannot change it, and the fare for the skipped stretch is not refunded.
- Plan a connection if needed. If Ottappalam is not on your direct route, read how to connect trains when there is no direct train before you book a second train.
If the train is running late on the day, the running status page shows where it is now, so you can decide whether to wait at Ottappalam or move on by road.
Other stations on the route
If you are changing to a local train at Ernakulam, the station you arrive at matters. Our guide to Ernakulam Junction and Ernakulam Town explains the difference. At the Bengaluru end, Bengaluru City, Yesvantpur and SMVT are compared in another guide.
What we will update
We will change this post if the railways publish an official notice on the stop, a change to the timings, or an end to the trial. Until then, the figures here are the ones the report gives, and our own records for the two trains.
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Frequently asked questions
Does 16377 stop at Ottappalam every day?
The press report describes the halt as experimental from 15 October 2026, and our train record lists 16377 as running daily. The report does not say how long the trial lasts, so check the live status page for the date of your journey.
What time does 16377 reach Ottappalam?
According to the press report, 16377 arrives at 2:30 pm and leaves at 2:31 pm. Our timetable record does not yet show Ottappalam as a stop, so confirm the timing on the train's live status page before you travel.
Is the Ottappalam stop permanent?
The report calls it an experimental stop and does not say it will be permanent. We could not find an official railway notice that confirms a permanent halt, so do not plan around it beyond the trial period.
Can I board at Ottappalam on my existing ticket?
Only if the ticket allows a boarding-point change. A confirmed or RAC ticket can change its boarding point once, up to 30 minutes before departure. A waitlisted ticket cannot, and the fare for the skipped stretch is not refunded.
Sources
Rules and fares change. Check the official source before you travel. Last reviewed 18 October 2026.
