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The Ernakulam Velankanni Express is a train service in the Southern Railway zone of India. It runs between Ernakulam and Velankanni via Kottayam, Kollam, Tenkasi, Virudhunagar, Manamadurai,Karaikudi, Tiruthuraipundi, and Tiruvarur. This train is helpful for pilgrims from Kerala to reach Velankanni Church and Nagore Dargah.
| ERNAKULAM-VELANKANNI BI-WEEKLY EXPRESS | |
|---|---|
| Overview | |
| Service type | Regional rail Express |
| Status | Operating |
| Locale | Tamil Nadu & Kerala |
| First service | 25 September 2023 (Commercial run) |
| Current operator(s) | Southern Railway zone |
| Route | |
| Termini | Ernakulam Junction (ERS) Velankanni(VLNK) |
| Stops | 31 |
| Distance travelled | 690 km (430 mi) |
| Average journey time | 16 h 45 m |
| Service frequency | 16361- Mon,Sat 16362- Tue,Sun |
| Train number(s) | 16361/2 |
| On-board services | |
| Class(es) | AC II Tier, AC III Tier, SL, GS |
| Seating arrangements | Yes |
| Sleeping arrangements | Yes |
| Technical | |
| Rolling stock | ICF |
| Track gauge | 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) |
| Electrification | yes, completed in 2024 February 20 th |
| Operating speed | 41kmph (Avg) |
| Average length | 320.978m (including engines) |
| Track owner(s) | Indian Railways |
| Rake maintenance | PM @ ERS, OEA @ VLNK |
Service edit
This train covers a distance of 690 kilometres (430 mi) with a journey time of approximately 16 3/4 hours.
It runs as a bi-weekly express with train no 16361 on Mondays and Saturdays and 16362 on Sundays and Tuesdays .
The railway board approved a biweekly express on 17/8/2023 and is running with the above numbers.[1]
It is hauled by ERS WDG-3A for end to end journey. Twin lead till QLN and 1 is attached as a banker from QLN to SCT.
Major halts edit
The major halts in this train are
Coaches edit
The train has standard ICF rakes with a maximum speed of 110 km/h. This train does not have rake sharing and have 1 independent rake.
The train consists of 18 coaches:
- 1 AC II Tier
- 4 AC III Tier
- 9 Sleeper coaches
- 2 General Unreserved
- 2 SLR cum Luggage Rake
The number of coaches got increased from 14 to 18 from April 6th 2024, subject to positive inspection report submitted by RDSO to Southern Railway for running 22 LHB/24 ICF coaches in the Ghats section. The number of coaches will be further increased in the next phase after the extension of platforms in stations along Kollam-Sengottai section to accommodate 24 coaches. [2]
Direction reversal edit
The train reverses its direction twice:
- Kollam Junction railway station before entering into Kollam Sengottai Line (Ghat section with an MPS of 30kmph).
- Nagapattinam Junction railway station before entering the line to Velankanni.
See also edit
References edit
- ^ "Kerala train services: 2 routes regularised; schedule change, new stops, Onam special to Mumbai". English.Mathrubhumi. 2023-08-18. Retrieved 2023-08-19.
- ^ https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/madurai/trains-passing-via-sengottai-punalur-route-to-get-18-coaches/articleshow/109077953.cms
External links edit
* Maharshi, Tageeru Anubharadwaj. "06015X/Ernakulam Jn - Velankanni SpecialFare Special (Via Kollam Jn) (PT) - Velankanni to South SR/Southern Zone - Railway Enquiry". indiarailinfo.com. Retrieved 2023-09-06. * Maharshi, Tageeru Anubharadwaj. "06016X/Velankanni - Ernakulam Jn. SpecialFare Special (Via Kollam Jn) (PT) - South to Velankanni SR/Southern Zone - Railway Enquiry". indiarailinfo.com. Retrieved 2023-09-06. * "Southern Railway Welcomes You". sr.indianrailways.gov.in. Retrieved 2023-09-06. * "Southern Railway Welcomes You". sr.indianrailways.gov.in. Retrieved 2023-09-06.