Amritha Express

Last updated

Amritha Express
Overview
Service type Express
Locale Tamil Nadu & Kerala
First service1 January 2001;24 years ago (2001-01-01)
Current operator Southern Railway
Route
Termini Thiruvananthapuram Central (TVC)
Rameswaram (RMM)
Stops27
Distance travelled717 km (446 mi)
Average journey time16 hours 15 minutes
Service frequencyDaily
Train number16343 / 16344
On-board services
Classes AC First Class, AC 2 Tier, AC 3 Tier, Sleeper Class, General Unreserved.
Seating arrangementsYes
Sleeping arrangementsYes
Auto-rack arrangementsOverhead racks
Catering facilitiesOn-board catering,
E-catering
Observation facilitiesLarge windows
Baggage facilitiesAvailable
Other facilitiesBelow the seats
Technical
Rolling stock ICF coach
Track gauge 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in)
Operating speed47 km/h (29 mph) average including halts.

The 16343 / 16344 Amritha Express is an express train operated by the Southern Railway zone of the Indian Railways. It run between Thiruvananthapuram Central in Kerala and Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu.

Contents

At first, it was extended from Palakkad to Palakkad Town, then later extended upto Pollachi, then Madurai, and fourth time it’s extended to Rameswaram. [1] This train marks as the direct connectivity train to Palani & Rameswaram from Kerala benefiting Malayali pilgrims to Palani Dhandayuthapani Swamy Temple and Rameswaram Ramanathaswamy Temple. This train also connects Pollachi, Palani and Dindigul places of Tamil Nadu directly to Rameswaram. Therefore this train will be a greatest benefit for the passengers enroute.

Background

It was introduced in January 2001 by the then Railway Minister O. Rajagopal, from Thiruvananthapuram Central to Palakkad Town. This train is named after Mata Amritanandamayi, a well known spiritual leader of Kerala. At first, the train used to run between Thiruvananthapuram Central to Palakkad, then extended up to Pollachi, then extended to Madurai Junction and finally to Rameswaram. It starts from Thiruvananthapuram Central, runs via Kollam Junction, Kayamkulam Junction, Chengannur, Tiruvalla, Changanasseri, Kottayam, Ernakulam Town, Aluva, Thrissur, Ottapalam, Palakkad Junction, Palakkad Town, Kollengode, Pollachi Junction, Udumalaipettai, Palani, Dindigul Junction, Madurai Junction, Manamadurai Junction, Paramakudi, Ramanathapuram, then reaches Rameswaram the next day.

History

It was first introduced as Thiruvananthapuram Central–Palakkad Town Amritha Express, via Shoranur Junction. Later, from November 2015, it had been extended and operated as a special express between Palakkad Town and Pollachi Junction.

Then, from 1 November 2017, Amritha Express was extended to Madurai Junction with new stops at Kollengode, Pollachi, Udumalaipettai, Palani, Oddanchatram and Dindigul Junction by withdrawing stoppage at Shoranur Junction. Starting from 16 November 2011, at Shoranur Junction, eight coaches from Nilambur Road was linked with Amritha Express and ran as Thiruvananthapuram Central–Madurai Junction Amritha Express / Thiruvananthapuram Central–Nilambur Road Rajya Rani Express.

On 5 May 2019, the link express from Nilambur Road was discontinued permanently, and both the trains ran as an independent train. Also Amritha Express was diverted to run via Palakkad Junction–Ottapalam–Thrissur instead of Palakkad Junction–Shoranur Junction–Ottapalam–Thrissur. Therefore, Amritha Express will not touch Shoranur Junction, instead it will bypass Shoranur Junction. The link train Rajya Rani Express has got independent coaches and will run with new terminal from Kochuveli to Nilambur Road. [2]

From October 16, 2025, Amritha Express was further extended to Rameswaram. [1]

Locomotive

After electrification of Madurai Junction - Palani - Pollachi Junction - Palakkad railway line, this train uses Arakkonam Electric Loco shed based WAP 4 locomotive from Madurai Junction to Palakkad Junction & WAP 7 locomotive from Palakkad Junction to Thiruvananthapuram Central. WAP 7 Loco Hauls From Thiruvananthapuram Central to Palakkad Junction & Wap 4 (Rarely) Takes Charge from Palakkad Junction to Madurai Junction.

Timings

This train is a daily service train with the following departures and arrivals at some of these stations:-

Thiruvananthapuram Central ↔ Rameswaram
16343Station NameStation Code16344
ArrivalDepartureArrivalDeparture
-20:30 Thiruvananthapuram Central TVC04:55-
21:3221:35 Kollam Junction QLN02:4702:50
22:3822:40 Chengannur CNGR01:4101:43
00:3000:35 Ernakulam Town ERN00:0200:07
00:4600:47 Idappally IPL23:4723:48
03:4004:10 Palakkad Junction PGT20:3020:55
05:3705:40 Pollachi Junction POY19:0219:05
06:4206:45 Palani PLNI18:0218:05
08:3508:40 Dindigul Junction DG17:0517:10
09:5009:55 Madurai Junction MDU16:0516:10
10:2510:30 Manamadurai Junction MNM15:0515:10
11:1311:15 Ramanathapuram RMD14:1314:15
12:45- Rameswaram RMM-14:30 (return journey departure time )

Coach composition

The Train shares rake with Boat Mail Express with effect from 2025 April 14.

Loco12345678910111213141516171819202122 23
BSicon LDER.svg SLRURURS1S2S3S4S5S6S7S8S9S10S11S12HA1A1B1B2B3URURSLR

References

  1. 1 2 "Amritha Express extended to Rameswaram". The Hindu. The Hindu Bureau. 15 October 2025. ISSN   0971-751X . Retrieved 11 November 2025.
  2. ↑ "Rajyarani Express to become independent train this month". The Times of India. 9 October 2018. ISSN   0971-8257 . Retrieved 11 November 2025.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.