Bengaluru–Kannur Express to Run Overnight Train Till Kozhikode from March 15

The Bengaluru-Kannur Express, train numbers 16511 and 16512, is being extended till Kozhikode from 15 March, giving Malabar passengers a long-awaited direct night link with Bengaluru. The service offers relief from costly private buses and packed trains, while retaining timings that suit regular office-goers and students.

Under the revised plan, train 16511 will continue from Kannur and terminate at Kozhikode, while 16512 will start from Kozhikode instead of Kannur. The schedule has been arranged so that travellers can complete the journey overnight, reach Bengaluru by early morning, and return to Kozhikode during daytime hours.

Bengaluru-Kannur Express new Kozhikode extension schedule

From 15 March, train 16511 will leave Bengaluru at 9:35 pm and reach Kozhikode at 12:40 pm the next day. In the reverse direction, train 16512 will depart Kozhikode at 3:30 pm, halt at Kannur at 5:00 pm, and then follow the earlier timetable to arrive in Bengaluru at 6:35 am.

The extension includes key stops at Thalassery, Vadakara, and Koyilandy, improving access for intermediate towns in North Kerala. These halts are aimed at daily commuters, traders, and students who often travel between these coastal centres and Bengaluru, and who previously depended heavily on road services or indirect rail options.

Bengaluru-Kannur Express station-wise timings to Kozhikode

Railway officials have released detailed arrival and departure timings for major stations between Bengaluru and Kozhikode on trains 16511 and 16512. The timings help passengers plan connections and last-mile travel, especially for morning office reporting in Bengaluru and midday arrivals in Kozhikode and nearby areas.

Bengaluru-Kannur Express demand, delays and approval history

Local passengers and organisations had been asking for this additional direct train for many years, as Kozhikode previously depended on the Kannur-Yesvantpur Express via Salem and on private buses for Bengaluru travel. The Railway Board approved the extension in February 2024, but technical challenges postponed implementation for several months.

According to information shared by MK Raghavan, MP, the project moved forward after repeated follow-ups with the Ministry of Railways and interventions in Parliament. Those efforts, combined with planning by railway officials, eventually cleared operational issues and allowed the extended service to be introduced from 15 March.

Bengaluru-Kannur Express benefits for Kozhikode commuters

The updated timings are aimed at IT employees, students, and traders from Kozhikode and nearby towns who work or study in Bengaluru. Leaving Kozhikode at 3:30 pm and arriving in Bengaluru at 6:35 am lets passengers reach offices, campuses, and markets soon after getting down at the station.

Besides improving the Bengaluru connection, the new stretch between Kannur and Kozhikode is expected to ease evening pressure on other trains running from Kozhikode towards Mangaluru. With some passengers shifting to the extended Bengaluru-Kannur Express, seats may free up on parallel services, giving travellers from the Malabar region more reliable rail options.