Madurai-Guruvayur Vistadome coach draws reported 60-day sellout
Southern Railway's glass-roofed Executive Vistadome AC coach began service on the Madurai-Guruvayur Express on October 22, 2026, with its first trip sold out. Reports following the launch put bookings at 100% for the next 60 days, as the railway trials the sightseeing coach on the route between Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
Mariam Al Mansoori
Daylight views through the Western Ghats
The journey's main scenic stretch is the 50-kilometer Sengottai-Punalur ghat section, according to Mathrubhumi. Here, the railway passes through forests, tunnels and mountain valleys in the Western Ghats. The Times of India reported that the Madurai-Guruvayur Express crosses this section in daylight, unlike several other trains that pass through at night.
Passengers travel through the Aryankavu Pass and across the historic Pathimoonu Kannara Bridge, better known as the 13-arch bridge. Beyond the railway itself, attractions in the wider region include Palaruvi and Kazhuthurutty waterfalls, the Thenmala ecotourism center and the Courtallam waterfalls near Tenkasi.
The route also links Madurai's Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple with the Sree Krishna Temple in Guruvayur. Stops along the way include Virudhunagar, Sivakasi, Rajapalayam, Tenkasi, Kollam and Ernakulam, Mathrubhumi reported.
A 42-seat coach with adjustable glass
The Executive Chair Car seats 42 passengers, according to Mathrubhumi. Large windows and a glass roof provide views of the surroundings, while cushioned reclining chairs can rotate a full 360 degrees. Passengers can switch the electronic glass ceiling between clear and shaded settings with a button. The report also noted modern toilet amenities.
The Vistadome is part of a revised train formation announced by Southern Railway and reported by The Hindu BusinessLine on October 18. Trains 16327 and 16328 now comprise one Executive AC Chair Car (Vistadome), one AC Three Tier coach, two Sleeper Class coaches, seven General Second Class coaches, one Divyangjan-friendly Second Class coach and one Luggage cum Brake Van.
Operating dates and fares
On the Madurai-to-Guruvayur journey, Train No. 16327 carries the Vistadome coach on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from October 22, 2026, through January 15, 2027.
In the opposite direction, the coach runs on Train No. 16328 from Guruvayur to Madurai on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays. Those departures begin October 23, 2026, and continue through January 16, 2027.
Passengers booking the coach will find it under the separate class code EV. Reports citing Southern Railway put the starting basic fare at Rs 515.
Destination-based fares from Madurai Junction are Rs 1,010 to Punalur, Rs 1,140 to Kollam, Rs 1,570 to Ernakulam Town and Rs 1,875 for the complete trip to Guruvayur, according to Mathrubhumi and The Times of India.
Launch follows a three-year campaign
Madurai Lok Sabha MP Su Venkatesan formally launched the inaugural service at Madurai railway station with Divisional Railway Manager Om Prakash Meena present, The Times of India and Mathrubhumi reported. Venkatesan had advocated for the service for more than three years as a railway advisory committee member, according to Mathrubhumi.
Vistadome coaches first entered service with Indian Railways in 2017 on Andhra Pradesh's Visakhapatnam-Kirandul route. That journey takes in mountain scenery, tunnels, bridges and waterfalls around the Araku Valley.
For the Madurai-Guruvayur service, the temporary operation gives railway authorities a chance to assess demand for the sightseeing coach. Mathrubhumi described it as a three-month trial ending January 15, 2027, and reported that the coach could become a permanent addition if passenger patronage remains steady.
