Charminar Express

Charminar Express
Overview
Service type	Superfast
Locale	Telangana, Andhra Pradesh & Tamil Nadu
Current operator(s)	South Central Railway
Route
Termini	Hyderabad Deccan (HYB) Tambaram (TBM)
Stops	16
Distance travelled	818 km (508 mi)
Average journey time	14 hours 40 minutes
Service frequency	Daily
Train number(s)	12759 / 12760
On-board services
Class(es)	AC First Class, AC 2 Tier, AC 3 Tier, Sleeper Class, General Unreserved
Seating arrangements	Yes
Sleeping arrangements	Yes
Catering facilities	On-board catering, E-catering
Observation facilities	Large windows
Baggage facilities	Available
Other facilities	Below the seats
Technical
Rolling stock	LHB coach
Track gauge	1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in)
Operating speed	57 km/h (35 mph) average including halts.
Route map

The 12759 / 12760 Charminar Express is an superfast express train that operates between Tambaram, a city in Chennai metropolitan area and Hyderabad. ^[1] In 2020, the railway board approved the change of terminals from Chennai Central to Tambaram railway station, ^[2] which is considered as the third railway hub of Chennai. ^[3] In 2023, the railway board announced the proposal of change of terminals from Tambaram railway station to Nagercoil Junction railway station via the chord line, ^[4]

Train schedule

Charminar is one of the most prestigious trains of SCR, with 24 coaches (first 24-coacher of SCR). After it got its LHB rakes it was reduced to 22 coaches.

• Train number 12759 runs from Chennai Tambaram ^[5] to Hyderabad. It departs from Tambaram (TBM) at 17.30 Hrs and arrives at Hyderabad Deccan Nampally Station (HYB) at 08.10 Hrs the next day, with 16 intermediate halts.
• Train number 12760 runs from Hyderabad ^[5] to Chennai Tambaram. It departs from Hyderabad Deccan Nampally Station (HYB) at 18.00 Hrs and arrives at Tambaram (TBM) at 08.00 Hrs next day.

Coach composition

The train consists of 22 coaches.

• 1 AC First cum AC Two Tier,
• 3 AC Two Tier,
• 6 AC Three Tier,
• 8 Sleeper class,
• 2 General Unreserved,
• 2 End-on Generator cars (EOG).

Moreover, Charminar Express is one of the few trains of the country having CBC (Centre Buffer Coupling) rakes with GPS system. Also the first train to become a CBC. And first 24 coacher of SCR. From 5 November 2019, Charminar Express is being operated with LHB coach and coaches were reduced to 22. ^[6]

Relevance

This train is named after Charminar, an historical monument in Hyderabad built to mark the victory against the plague epidemic that haunted Hyderabad in the 15th century. "Charminar" refers to the four minarets of the monument on the top.

Traction

It is hauled by a Lallaguda Loco Shed based WAP-7 electric locomotive on its entire journey.

Route and halts

• Hyderabad Deccan
• Secunderabad Junction
• Kazipet Junction
• Warangal
• Dornakal Junction
• Khammam
• Vijayawada Junction
• Tenali Junction
• Chirala
• Ongole
• Kavali
• Nellore
• Gudur Junction
• Naidupeta
• Sullurupeta
• Chennai Egmore
• Tambaram

See also

• Charminar
• Rail transport in India
• South Central Railway zone
• Rajkot–Secunderabad Express

References

1. "Train Name Index" (PDF). Indian Railways. Centre For Railway Information Systems. p. 28. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
2. "Extensions, change in terminals, partial cancellations, diversions and cancellation of trains" (PDF). Indian Railways. New Delhi: Centre For Railway Information Systems. 20 August 2020. p. 2. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
3. "Originating point of two trains shifted from Egmore to Tambaram". The New Indian Express. Chennai. 6 August 2017. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
4. "Plea to extend Charminar Exp to Nagercoil through main line". The Times of India . 10 October 2023.
5. "Welcome to Indian Railway Passenger reservation Enquiry". Archived from the original on 23 October 2015. Retrieved 30 May 2014.
6. "LHB rake for Charminar Express". Southern Railways. 28 October 2019. Retrieved 30 October 2019.

External links

• Charminar Express route map India Rail Info