Pallavan Superfast Express
Chennai Egmore - Karaikudi Pallavan Superfast Express At Chennai Egmore with 30421 RPM/WAP-7
Overview
Service typeSuperfast
StatusActive
First service15 August 1984 (1984-08-15)
Current operator(s)Indian Railways
Websitewww.indianrailways.gov.in
Route
TerminiKaraikkudi Junction (KKDI)
Chennai Egmore (MS)
Stops11
Distance travelled426 km (265 mi)
Average journey time6 hours, 50 minutes
Service frequencyDaily
Train number(s)
  • (Down) 12605
  • (Up) 12606
Line(s) usedChord line
On-board services
Class(es)
  • 3 A/C Chair Car
  • 13 Non A/C Chair Car
  • 3 Unreserved
  • 2 EOG
  • 1 Pantry (A/C Hot Buffet)
Disabled accessDisabled access
Seating arrangementsOpen coach
Sleeping arrangementsNo
Auto-rack arrangementsNo
Catering facilitiesYes (A/C Hot Buffet)
Entertainment facilitiesNo
Baggage facilitiesOverhead racks
Other facilitiesYes
Technical
Rolling stockWAP7 (RPM)
Track gauge1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in)
Electrification25 kV AC 50 Hz
Operating speed69 km/h (43 mph)
Average length22 Coaches
Track owner(s)Southern Railway zone
Timetable number(s)21/21A
Rake maintenanceMadurai depot
Rake sharingVaigai Superfast Express
Route map

Pallavan Superfast Express[lower-alpha 1] is an Intercity express typed superfast service operated by the Southern Railway zone of the Indian Railways. This service connects the cities of Chennai to Karaikudi via Tiruchirappalli in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The rakes of this train was upgraded to brand new modern LHB rakes from 30 June 2019. Pallavan SuperFast is fondly known as "PRINCE OF SOUTHERN RAILWAY" runs along with its rake sharer Vaigai Express "King of Southern Railway" runs between Madurai Junction-Chennai Egmore, they both collectively known as "CHORD LINE BROTHERS".

History

The Pallavan Express was introduced to run parallel to the Vaigai Express, which could not complete the round trip between Madurai and Chennai. The express was initially introduced on 15 August 1977 between Chennai and Madurai as a daily day express service with remaining rakes of Vaigai Superfast Express in the name of Madras Egmore - Madurai Special Express for supplying rakes to Vaigai Express at Chennai Egmore.[1]

On 15 August 1984, this train was named as "Pallavan Superfast Express" and made to run between Chennai Egmore and Tiruchchirappalli Junction. And its rakes are shared with Vaigai Super Fast Express at Chennai Egmore remains same. Both Vaigai and Pallavan were the only SuperFast trains in Chennai - Tiruchchirappalli - Madurai section till 2001.

29 years later, it was extended till Karaikudi, effective from 1 September 2013 to support people of Sivaganga and Pudukkotai districts connecting to the capital city Chennai in day time. This superfast express runs along with Vaigai Superfast Express serves as fastest public commutations mode between Chennai and Trichy apart from air. The Express makes the 426 km (265 mi) run in 6 hours 45 mins with only 12 stops.

It is the most popular day train for travel between Karaikudi Junction and Chennai Egmore via Tiruchirappalli Junction. It maintains excellent speed in its whole way making the one-way trip in just 6 hours 30 mins, as compared to the 8–9 hours by road. Pallavan Superfast is fondly called as "Prince of Southern Railway" and its Rake sharing partner Vaigai Superfast is known as "King of Southern Railway".

This train runs at its max permit speed of approximately 110 kmph between Chennai Egmore and Karaikudi Junction.

Pictures

Schedule

The Pallavan Express departs Karaikudi Junction at 05:35 AM then reaches Tiruchirappalli Junction at 06:50 AM, and will reach its final destination Chennai Egmore at 12:10 PM 

And 12605 Pallavan Express departs Chennai Egmore at 03:45 PM then arrives Tiruchirappalli Junction around 08:40 PM and reaches Karaikkudi Junction at 10:35 PM .[2]

The train has one pantry car for providing continuous refreshment/food supply to passengers. Food fares are applicable and will be in good quality.

12605 - Chennai Egmore → Karaikkudi ~ Pallavan Superfast Express
Station/Junction Name Station Code Arrival Departure Day
Chennai Egmore SOURCE MS 15:45 1
Tambaram TBM 16:13 16:15 1
Chengalpattu Junction CGL 16:43 16:45 1
Melmaruvathur MLMR 17:08 17:10 1
Villupuram Junction VM 18:00 18:05 1
Vriddhachalam Junction VRI 18:45 18:47 1
Ariyalur ALU 19:21 19:22 1
Lalgudi LLI 19:49 19:50 1
Srirangam SRGM 20:06 20:08 1
Ponmalai GOC 20:19 20:20 1
Tiruchchirappalli Junction TPJ 20:40 20:45 1
Pudukottai PDKT 21:43 21:45 2
Karaikkudi Junction KKDI 22:35 DEST 1
12606 - Karaikkudi → Chennai Egmore ~ Pallavan Superfast Express
Karaikkudi Junction KKDI SOURCE 05:35 1
Pudukkottai PDKT 05:58 06:00 1
Tiruchchirappalli Junction TPJ 06:50 06:55 1
Srirangam SRGM 07:15 07:17 1
Lalgudi LLI 07:32 07:33 1
Ariyalur ALU 08:05 08:06 1
Vriddhachalam Junction VRI 08:38 08:40 1
Villupuram Junction VM 09:28 09:30 1
Melmaruvathur MLMR 10:18 10:20 1
Chengalpattu Junction CGL 10:45 10:47 1
Tambaram TBM 11:18 11:20 1
Mambalam MBM 11:35 11:37 1
Chennai Egmore MS 12:10 DEST 1

Locomotive

This train is being hauled by an electric locomotive WAP 7 from Electric Loco Shed, Royapuram between Chennai Egmore and Karaikudi Junction and vice versa.

Rakes

Loco 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22
EOGURC1C2C3D1D2D3D4D5D6D7PCD8D9D10D11D12D13URURSLR

Initially when introduced between Chennai and Tiruchchirappalli in 1984 YDM4 was used to haul this train in MG.

Then from 1999 this train was converted to broad gauge and GOC WDM series green livery alco hauled this train.

Chord line was electrified and from 2012, this train used AJJ/ED WAP4 or RPM/ED WAP7 between Chennai and Tiruchchirappalli.

After getting extended to Karaikkudi a GOC WDP4 series or GOC WDM series was usually made as onlink for this train between Tiruchchirappalli and Karaikkudi.

The rakes are maintained at Madurai.

Demands

There is a long pending demand by the kollywood flim industry people and BHEL employees of Thirumayam to stop this train at Chettinad Railway station.

There are also strong demands to extend this train from Karaikudi Junction to Manamadurai Junction which is further 62 km away from Karaikudi junction along with a stoppages at Devakottai Road, Kallal and Sivaganga.[3]

Accident

On 25 April 2018, Front wheels of WDP4D numbered 40405 which hauled 12606 UP Karaikkudi - Chennai Pallavan Superfast Express derailed while entering Tiruchchirappalli Junction railway station at 6:27 am. It was reported due to rail fracture, no injures and casualties reported. Then train was moved further with the delay of three hours towards Chennai.[4]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ The Train was named as to commemorate the Pallavas Kingdom, who ruled over the parts that is the present Chennai and its surroundings.

References

  1. ↑ "Glorious days of Vaigai Express! - David Pravin - Trip Report | IRFCA.org". www.irfca.org. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  2. ↑ "12605/Pallavan SuperFast Express - Chennai Egmore to Karaikkudi SR/Southern Zone - Railway Enquiry".
  3. ↑ Correspondent, Special (26 June 2019). "Karti Chidambaram for re-scheduling of some trains". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  4. ↑ Rajaram, R. (25 April 2018). "Derailment of Pallavan Express at Tiruchi hits rail traffic". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Pallavan Express.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.