Mangalore–Chennai Mail

Chennai Mangaluru Suerfast Mail

Overview
Service type	Superfast Express Train
Locale	Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka
First service	May 12, 1862
Current operator(s)	Indian Railways
Route
Termini	Puratchi Thalaivar Dr. M. G. Ramachandran Central railway station (Chennai Central) Mangaluru Central
Distance travelled	901 km (560 mi)
Average journey time	16 Hrs
Service frequency	Daily
Train number(s)	12601/12602
On-board services
Class(es)	Second AC, Third AC, Sleeper, Unreserved
Seating arrangements	Yes
Sleeping arrangements	Yes
Observation facilities	Large windows
Technical
Track gauge	1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in)
Operating speed	55 km/h (34 mph) average with halts, 120 km/h (75 mph) maximum
Route map

The 12601/02 Mangalore Mail is the oldest running train in India. It is a Superfast daily operated by the Indian Railways (Southern Railway) between the cities of Chennai and Mangaluru via several places of importance including Katpadi, Salem, Erode, Tirupur, Palakkad, Shoranur, Tirur, Kozhikode and Kannur, Kasaragod. This train is considered by many to be the contemporary to the Thiruvananthapuram Mail. Just like the Trivandrum mail which has more stops in South Kerala, this train has more stops in North Kerala (Malabar region), mainly between Shoranur Junction and Mangaluru Central showing that this train is chiefly meant for the people of this region.

History

This train was first introduced on May 12, 1862 as Malabar Express, and ran from Royapuram (Chennai) to Beypore (Calicut) and subsequently extended to Mangalore after the completion of line. It was also the first-ever train to enter Kerala with electric locomotive.

Rake sharing

The train shares its rake with the West Coast Express, Maveli Express and Malabar Express.

Chennai Mangaluru Mail --> Mangaluru Thiruvananthapuram Malabar Express --> Thiruvananthapuram Mangaluru Malabar Express --> Mangaluru Chennai West Coast Express -->Chennai Mangaluru Mail

Mangaluru Chennai Mail --> Chennai Mangaluru West Coast Express --> Mangaluru Thiruvananthapuram Maveli Express --> Thiruvananthapuram Mangaluru Maveli Express --> Mangaluru Chennai Mail

Locomotive link

As the route is fully electrified now it is hauled by a WAP-7 locomotive from Royapuram.