However, there have been no reports of casualties so far.
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The train left Thiruvananthapuram at 2040 hrs and the derailment took place when the train was approaching Karukutty station.
At least 15 passenger trains, besides Guruvayur-Trivandrum intercity and its pairing train, Ernakulam-Kannur express, Alapuzha-Kannur express of August 29 and 16305 Kannur-Ernakulam express of August 30 have been cancelled, it said.
Tickets will be refunded and buses have been arranged to transport passengers from Karukutty to Chalakudy from where they will be taken to their destination by special trains. Top railway officials have rushed to the spot.
Southern Railways Additional General Manager P K Mishra, who visited the accident site along with senior colleagues, told reporters there was no casualty.
According to railway officials in Thiruvananthapuram, the derailed coaches have not detached or toppled, which is one of the reasons the passengers escaped unhurt.
Rail traffic towards Ernakulam was expected to be restored by 6 PM today and on the Thrissur route by tomorrow morning, Mishra said.
Following the incident, buses and local trains were arranged to ferry the stranded passengers to Kochi and Thrissur. While six long distance trains were diverted through Thirunelveli-Erode route, six trains from Thiruvananthapuram were short terminated at Ernakulam.
Train services in the State had been hit as railways have cancelled and regulated many trains.
It was raining heavily when the incident occurred.
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Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said he had asked the state-run Kerala State Road Transport Corp to press more buses into service to meet the rush.
