Residents of North Malabar have launched protests following Indian Railways’ decision to extend short-distance trains from Kannur towards Palakkad, bypassing Kasaragod. The move has angered rail users, who claim long-standing demands for improved evening services to Kasaragod are being ignored. Commuters argue that existing connectivity to the northernmost part of Kerala remains severely inadequate and neglected by policy decisions.
The controversy centres on the Shoranur-Kannur Special ToD Express, which began operation as an ‘On Demand Special train’ on July 2. While passengers had been urging for this key train to be extended northwards to Kasaragod or Manjeswaram, the Railways instead diverted it east to Palakkad. The service will now operate daily except Saturdays, terminating at Shoranur. Commuters say this diversion undermines much-needed rail expansion toward Kasaragod district.
Rail users are particularly frustrated that no daily direct trains run from Kozhikode to Kasaragod after 5:10 p.m., leaving passengers stranded until the next available service at 1:10 a.m. Associations say that while nine short-distance trains terminate at Kannur from the south, no new efforts are made to push northwards. The community argues this pattern demonstrates systemic disregard for the needs of commuters in northern Kerala.
Railway users also criticised the lack of active advocacy from local representatives, stating that leaders from other districts have secured better services. Calls have intensified for local MLAs and the Kasaragod MP to press the Railways for an urgent route extension. Meanwhile, approved projects such as the extension of the Coimbatore-Kannur Express to Mangaluru remain unfulfilled, worsening the sense of isolation and service disparity faced by residents.
Currently, only one passenger service operates between Kannur and Mangaluru via Kasaragod, which residents say is woefully insufficient. Protesters argue that the Railways must prioritise the transportation needs of northern Kerala rather than diverting critical services to the east. The Kasaragod Rail Passengers Association is calling for a coordinated public campaign to demand fairer route planning and more frequent trains serving the northern corridor of the state.
The decision to divert train services away from Kasaragod has sparked a wave of protests in North Malabar, where rail connectivity remains fragile. Commuters are demanding urgent intervention from local and central authorities to address long-standing service gaps. With dissatisfaction growing over regional disparities in rail planning, public pressure is mounting on Indian Railways to extend key routes northward and ensure equitable transport access across Kerala.
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