Amritha Express

Amritha Express
Overview
First service	1 January 2001;23 years ago (2001-01-01)
Current operator(s)	Indian Railways
Route
Termini	Trivandrum Central Madurai Junction
Stops	22
Distance travelled	617 km (383 mi)
Average journey time	15 hours 45 minutes
Service frequency	Daily
Train number(s)	16343 / 16344
On-board services
Class(es)	AC Two Tier, AC Three Tier, Sleeper class, General Unreserved.
Seating arrangements	Yes
Sleeping arrangements	Yes
Catering facilities	No
Observation facilities	Large windows
Technical
Rolling stock	ICF coach pulled by WAP-4 from Electric Loco Shed, Vijayawada or from Electric Loco Shed, Arakkonam
Track gauge	1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in)
Operating speed	45 km/h (28 mph) average with halts

Amritha Express is an overnight express train operated by the Southern Railway zone of the Indian Railways between Thiruvananthapuram Central in Kerala, and Madurai Junction in Tamil Nadu. This train is approved for extension upto Rameswaram via Manamadurai, Paramakkudi and Ramanathapuram. At first, it was extended from Palakkad to Palakkad Town, then later extended upto Pollachi, then again extended to Madurai. And now for the fourth time it’s approved for extension to Rameswaram. This train marks as the first direct connectivity train to Palani & Rameswaram from Kerala. Also from Trivandrum to Dindigul there’s no direct train service 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. At first, the train used to run between Thiruvananthapuram Central to Palakkad, then extended up to Pollachi later extended to Madurai Junction. It starts from Thiruvananthapuram Central, runs via Kollam Junction, Kayamkulam Junction, Tiruvalla, Changanasseri, Kottayam, Ernakulam Town, Aluva, Thrissur, Ottapalam, Palakkad Junction, Palakkad Town, Kollengode, Pollachi Junction, Udumalaipettai, Palani, Dindigul Junction, then reaches Madurai Junction 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.

Locomotive

Starting from September 24, 2022, this train will be converted from Diesel locomotive journey to a fully complete Electric locomotive journey since the Palakkad-Dindigul line got completely electrified and CRS Inspection was successfully completed. ^{[1] [2] [3]}

Timings

16344 Amritha Express standing in Palakkad Junction.

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

Thiruvananthapuram Central ↔ Madurai Junction
16343		Station Name	Station Code	16344
Arrival	Departure			Arrival	Departure
-	20:30	Trivandrum Ctrl	TVC	04:45	-
21:30	21:33	Kollam Junction	QLN	02:47	02:50
22:38	22:40	Chengannur	CNGR	01:41	01:43
00:45	00:50	Ernakulam Town	ERN	23:53	23:58
03:40	04:00	Palakkad Junction	PGT	20:30	20:55
05:37	05:40	Pollachi Junction	POY	19:02	19:05
06:42	06:45	Palani	PLNI	17:55	18:00
08:10	08:15	Dindigul Junction	DG	17:02	17:05
10:00	-	Madurai Junction	MDU	-	16:10

Coach composition

• 1 AC Two Tier,
• 2 AC Three Tier,
• 14 Sleeper class,
• 3 General Unreserved,
• 2 Luggage cum Disabled coach.

Loco	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22
	SLR	UR	UR	S1	S2	S3	S4	S5	S6	S7	S8	S9	S10	S11	S12	S13	S14	B1	B2	A1	UR	SLR

References

1. Bureau, The Hindu (22 September 2022). "Railways to run trains via Pollachi, Dindigul from September 24". The Hindu. ISSN   0971-751X . Retrieved 22 September 2022.{{cite news}}: |last= has generic name (help)
2. Frist electrical train run with 16343Amritha Express leading with wap-4 Engine in udumalpet , retrieved 24 September 2022
3. Syam, Megha. "5482116-0: Change In Traction...!! End To End Ele 22651/MGR Chennai Central - Palakkad Junction SF Express (Via Palani) - Railway Enquiry". indiarailinfo.com. Retrieved 25 September 2022.