Kerala Express
 Kerala Express near Warangal | |||||
| Overview | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service type | Superfast | ||||
| First service | 1977 (split train as Kerala–Karnataka (KK) Express )[1] 1983 (as separate train, Kerala Express)[2] | ||||
| Current operator(s) | Southern Railways | ||||
| Route | |||||
| Termini | New Delhi (NDLS) Thiruvananthapuram Central (TVC) | ||||
| Stops | 41 | ||||
| Distance travelled | 3,031 km (1,883 mi) | ||||
| Average journey time | 49 hours 25 minutes | ||||
| Service frequency | Daily | ||||
| Train number(s) | 12625 / 12626 | ||||
| On-board services | |||||
| Class(es) | AC 2 tier, AC 3 tier, Sleeper class, Unreserved/General | ||||
| Seating arrangements | Yes | ||||
| Sleeping arrangements | Yes | ||||
| Catering facilities | Available | ||||
| Observation facilities | Large windows | ||||
| Technical | |||||
| Rolling stock | LHB coach | ||||
| Track gauge | 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) | ||||
| Operating speed | 130 km/h (81 mph) maximum, 61 km/h (38 mph) average including halts | ||||
| Rake maintenance | Kochuveli | ||||
| |||||
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The 12625 / 12626 Kerala Superfast Express is a daily superfast express train of the Indian Railways that runs between New Delhi and Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala state. It is currently the longest-running daily Superfast train of Indian Railways (3027 km) and second-longest daily train in country after Avadh Assam Express (3115 km).[3] It is the second direct train to Kerala (1977) from the national capital Delhi after Jayanti Janata Express (1973) and first direct train connecting the state capital and Southern Kerala with New Delhi.
History
The Kerala Express was introduced in 1977 as a split train named Kerala–Karnataka (KK) Express.[4] The composition of Karnataka–Kerala Express has been increased from 14 coaches to 21 coaches with effect from 29 January 1981.[5]
The train is running with LHB rakes with effect from 4 November 2018.[6]
On 10 June 2019, during the 2019 Indian heat wave, four pilgrims from Tamil Nadu died due to heat exposure in the Kerala Express as it traveled south through the Bundelkhand, before the train arrived at Jhansi Junction.[7][8]
Route and halts
 |
- Thiruvananthapuram Central
- Thiruvananthapuram Pettah (Only for south bound towards Thiruvananthapuram Central)[9]
- Varkala Sivagiri
- Kollam Junction
- Kayamkulam Junction
- Mavelikara
- Chengannur
- Tiruvalla
- Changanasseri
- Kottayam
- Vaikom Road
- Ernakulam Town
- Aluva
- Thrissur
- Ottapalam
- Palakkad Junction
- Coimbatore Junction
- Tiruppur
- Erode Junction
- Salem Junction
- Jolarpettai Junction
- Katpadi Junction
- Chittoor
- Tirupati
- Renigunta Junction
- Gudur Junction
- Nellore
- Vijayawada Junction
- Warangal
- Ramagundam
- Balharshah
- Chandrapur
- Sevagram Junction
- Nagpur Junction
- Itarsi Junction
- Bhopal Junction
- Bina Junction
- Jhansi Junction
- Gwalior Junction
- Agra Cantonment
- Mathura
- Faridabad (Only for north bound towards New Delhi)[10]
- Hazrat Nizamuddin (Only for north bound towards New Delhi)
- New Delhi
Traction
It is hauled by a Royapuram / Erode based WAP 7 locomotive from end to end.[citation needed]
See also
- Ernakulam Town
- Karnataka Express
- Kerala Sampark Kranti Express
- Mangala Lakshadweep Express
- Trivandrum Central
References
- ^ "Railway Budget speech 1977-78 (interim)" (PDF). www.indianrailways.gov.in. Ministry of Railways. 28 March 1977.
- ^ "Railway Budget speech 1983-84" (PDF). www.indianrailways.gov.in. Ministry of Railways. 24 March 1983.
- ^ Longest trains, List of (2013). "Statistical Summary Indian Railways" (PDF). www.indianrailways.gov.in/.
- ^ Interim, Railway Budget (28 March 1977). "Interim Railway Budget Madhu Dandavate" (PDF). www.indianrailways.gov.in.
- ^ "Railway Budget speech 1981-82" (PDF). www.indianrailways.gov.in. Ministry of Railways. 19 February 1981.
- ^ "Kerala misses out on promised trains, backup coaches as authorities turn a blind eye". OnManorama. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
- ^ "Four pilgrims from Tamil Nadu die in train near Jhansi". The Hindu. 11 June 2019. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 13 June 2019.
- ^ "Heatwave claims 4 on Kerala Express". Mumbai Mirror. 12 June 2019. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
- ^ "12626/Kerala Express (PT)". India Rail Info. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
- ^ "12625/Kerala Express (PT)". India Rail Info. Retrieved 26 July 2023.