The concept of Garib Rath started with the vision to provide air conditioned berths at a comparatively low price for the people who could not afford to travel in AC coaches. Garib-rath phrase translates to poor man's chariot in English. The fare in this train is almost two-thirds of regular third ac fare. Usually Garib Rath have Third AC (3A) class only excepting some 1-2 trains which also have Chair Car (CC) class. The compartments of these train coaches have 9 berths making an extra space for side middle berth which is not there in any other train in India. In case passengers want to have bedrolls they need to pay separately for it. Some garib-raths run as fast as rajdhani, but they have lesser priority for track clearance compared to them. These trains are painted green with a yellow colored strip along the window panes. 1 garib-rath train runs from Salem to Aluva - TVCN GARIBRATH (12257).

Salem to Aluva TVCN GARIBRATH (12257) departs from Salem Jn station (SA) at 01:15 and arrives Aluva station (AWY) at 07:42. This train has 5 stoppages. Salem to Aluva garib-rath fare is Rs.465 in Third AC for this train.