Kochi to Kollam: Train vs Bus vs Car, and Which to Pick

The fastest train from Ernakulam to Kollam takes 1 hour 55 minutes, and the cheapest reserved second-sitting (2S) seat costs about Rs 85 to Rs 90, according to ConfirmTkt listings in October 2026. The drive is about 141 km and takes a little over two hours on a clear road, while the bus is the slowest of the three. For most trips, book the train.

• The options side by side
• What is the fastest train from Ernakulam to Kollam?
• Which trains run from Kollam back to Ernakulam?
• Is the bus from Ernakulam to Kollam worth it?
• How long does it take to drive from Kochi to Kollam?

The options side by side

Mode	Distance	Usual time	Approx. cost
Train	About 151 km by rail	1 hour 55 minutes to about 4 hours 20 minutes	From about Rs 85 in second sitting (2S)
Bus	About 141 km by road	About 3 hours 10 minutes	About Rs 170 to Rs 480
Own car	About 141 km	About 2 hours 20 minutes in clear traffic	Fuel, plus tolls if your route has them
Taxi	About 141 km	About 2 hours 20 minutes in clear traffic	About Rs 2,900 to Rs 3,500

What is the fastest train from Ernakulam to Kollam?

ConfirmTkt lists 34 trains on this stretch across the week, so you are rarely short of options. The ones worth knowing:

• Vande Bharat (20631): leaves Ernakulam Junction at 11:43, reaches Kollam at 13:38. Chair car from about Rs 735. Does not run on Wednesdays.
• Vande Bharat (20633): departs Ernakulam Town at 19:15, reaches Kollam at 21:32. Chair car from about Rs 760. Does not run on Thursdays.
• Jan Shatabdi (12075): leaves Ernakulam Junction at 17:25, reaches Kollam at 19:50, daily. Second sitting (2S) from about Rs 110. This is the best value on the route: only half an hour slower than the Vande Bharat for a fraction of the price.
• Guruvayur-Thiruvananthapuram Express (16341): leaves Ernakulam Junction at 05:20, reaches Kollam at 08:05, daily, from about Rs 85.
• Venad Express (16301): leaves Ernakulam Town at 17:20, reaches Kollam at 20:15, daily, from about Rs 90.

Avoid the Palaruvi Express (16792) unless nothing else fits: it needs about 4 hours 20 minutes. Trains split between Ernakulam Junction and Ernakulam Town, so check which one is on your ticket; our Junction vs Town guide explains the difference.

Which trains run from Kollam back to Ernakulam?

• Jan Shatabdi (12076): leaves Kollam at 06:55, reaches Ernakulam Junction at 09:10, daily, from about Rs 110. The obvious pick for a morning meeting in Kochi.
• Vande Bharat (20634): leaves Kollam at 06:05, reaches Ernakulam Town at 08:17. Not on Thursdays.
• Venad Express (16302): leaves at 06:33, reaches Ernakulam Town at 09:40, daily, from about Rs 90.
• Vande Bharat (20632): leaves Kollam at 16:55, reaches Ernakulam Junction at 18:42. Not on Wednesdays.
• Thiruvananthapuram-Guruvayur Express (16342): leaves at 18:28, reaches Ernakulam Junction at 21:30, daily, from about Rs 85.

The Vanchinad Express (16304) also runs in the evening but takes close to four hours, so look at the arrival time, not just the departure.

Is the bus from Ernakulam to Kollam worth it?

Rarely. Journey planners put the bus at a little over three hours with fares of roughly Rs 170 to Rs 480, which makes it both slower and dearer than a second-sitting train seat. The case for it is a start or end point far from either Ernakulam station or Kollam station, or a train that is sold out on a festival weekend.

How long does it take to drive from Kochi to Kollam?

About 141 km and roughly 2 hours 20 minutes with clear roads, according to Rome2rio. A taxi runs about Rs 2,900 to Rs 3,500 one way. That only makes sense for a group, a trip with stops along the coast, or when you need the car in Kollam. A Kochi-style Water Metro for Kollam's Ashtamudi Lake is at the feasibility-report stage; our piece on the Water Metro model heading south covers that plan. For other routes, see our Thiruvananthapuram and Alappuzha comparisons, or browse Guides.

Timetable note (as of October 2026)

Every train number, timing, running day and fare above is as listed on ConfirmTkt in October 2026; road and bus figures are Rome2rio estimates from the same month. Indian Railways revises timetables from time to time, so check NTES or the IRCTC app before you travel.