Grand Trunk Express

Last updated

Grand Trunk Express
Overview
Service type Superfast
First service1 April 1929;95 years ago (1929-04-01)
Current operator(s) Southern Railway
Route
Termini Chennai Egmore (MS)
New Delhi (NDLS)
Stops36
Distance travelled2,211 km (1,374 mi)
Average journey time36 hours
Service frequencyDaily
Train number(s)12615 / 12616
On-board services
Class(es) AC First, AC Two Tier, AC Three Tier, Sleeper class, Unreserved
Seating arrangementsYes
Sleeping arrangementsYes
Catering facilitiesAvailable
Observation facilitiesLarge windows
Baggage facilitiesAvailable
Technical
Rolling stock LHB coach
Track gauge 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in)
Operating speed62 km/h (39 mph) average with halts
Route map
Grand Trunk Express and Tamil Nadu Express (NDLS-MAS) Route map.jpg

The 12615 / 12616 Grand Trunk Express (commonly called G.T. or G.T. Express) is a daily Superfast Express train on Indian Railways, running between New Delhi and Madras Egmore. From February 2024, the train is starting from Madras Egmore. It is a historic train and is one of the oldest trains starting services in 1929. It originally ran between Peshawar in the North West Frontier Province (present-day capital of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan) and Mangalore Central in the Madras Presidency (present-day city in Karnataka, India). [1] From September 2021, it runs with modern new LHB coach with revised coach position.

Contents

History

For most of the 19th century, the main railway route from Madras to Calcutta and Delhi was through Bombay. The Madras–Bombay mail train carried through carriages between Madras and Manmad which were detached at Daund. Passengers would then transfer to the Great Indian Peninsular Railway's Calcutta Mail at Manmad to proceed to the northern and the eastern parts of the country. The East Coast line between Madras and Calcutta opened in 1900, providing a shorter route for the passengers bound to Calcutta, but the passengers bound to Delhi, Lahore and other major cities in the north, continued to rely on the Madras–Manmad mail service.

A record in through-train running was set in 1921 by a military train conveying families of a regiment from Peshawar to Cannanore (now Kannur in Kerala). The journey represented a continuous run of over 2500 miles over the North Western Railway (British India), Great Indian Peninsular Railway, Madras and Southern Mahratta Railway and the South Indian Railway. [2] Following this record journey, interest in a shorter through route between Madras and Delhi was rekindled and the Nizam's Guaranteed State Railway hastened the construction of the missing rail link between Kazipet and Balharshah Junction. The link was opened throughout on 15 November 1928 with the commissioning of the Asifabad Road – Balharshah Junction section. [3] This link reduced the distance between Madras and Delhi by over 200 miles.

From 1 April 1929 the 'Grand Trunk' express commenced operating as two through carriages running between Peshawar in the North Western Railway (British India) and Mangalore in the South Indian Railway. [1] The two coaches, consisting of a composite First and Second class coach and a composite Third class and Luggage coach, made their way to Madras attached to the South Indian Railway's Mangalore–Madras mail train. Between Madras and Itarsi sectional coaches to Itarsi, Bezwada (now Vijayawada) and Hyderabad were operated. At Itarsi, the two through coaches from Mangalore were attached to the Great Indian Peninsular Railway's Bombay–Delhi service. In the final leg of the journey between Delhi and Peshawar, the two through carriages were attached to the Frontier Mail and reached Peshawar traveling through Bathinda, Ferozepore and Lahore. Thus the train covered a distance of 2497 miles in a little over 96 hours. This was not an independent train and the name 'Grand Trunk express' only referred to the 2 through carriages operating between Mangalore and Peshawar. [4]

Shortly after the inauguration of the service, from 15 October 1929, the two through carriages operating between Mangalore and Peshawar were restricted to run between Mettupalayam and Delhi with Slip Coach to Peshawar/Landi Kotal . [5] From 1 March 1930, the service was extended to Lahore. [6] [7]

As the train consisted of only 2 through coaches, it proved insufficient to meet the traffic requirements. In addition, the train's schedule depended on the schedules of the trains carrying the through carriages, and was thus subject to regular delays. This led to a revision in the operation of the train and the revamped 'Grand Trunk express' commenced operating as a dedicated daily train between Madras and Delhi from 1 September 1930. [8] The rakes used for the train were supplied by the Great Indian Peninsular Railway for the next few years.

Until the mid-1960s, the Grand Trunk Express completed the 1356 mile journey between Madras and New Delhi in about 50 hours. After the introduction of the Dakshin Express in 1968, the Grand Trunk Express was moved to a faster schedule. For a few years after the change in schedule, the train operated as a fully air-conditioned service for two days every week and with a mixed consist on the remaining 5 days. In time, the air-conditioned service was discontinued. Today, the train covers the 2182.4 kilometer journey in 35 hours and 15 minutes, with 40 halts (exclusive of the terminals) at an average speed of 62kmph.

From 10 December 2015, the train started terminating at Delhi Sarai Rohilla instead of New Delhi. [9] From 12 May 2018, the terminal was reverted to New Delhi. [10]

From 9 February 2024, This train got shifted to Madras Egmore few kms away from Madras Central. Additional stoppage provided in Madras Egmore.

Timings


12615 Madras Egmore - New Delhi Grand Trunk Express leaves Madras Egmore by 17:40 and reaches New Delhi by 05:05 the third day.

12616 New Delhi - Madras Egmore Grand Trunk Express leaves New Delhi by 16:10 and reaches Madras Egmore by 05:00 the third day.

Schedule and service

The train passes through the states of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Delhi.[ citation needed ]

As per the numbering of the Indian Railways, the train has been assigned the numbers 12615/12616, with 12615 being assigned for the Madras Egmore (MS) – New Delhi (NDLS) run and 12616 for the New Delhi (NDLS) – Madras Egmore (MS) run.[ citation needed ]

Coach composition

It runs with LHB coach. It has a total of 22 coaches.

Route and halts

The important halts of Grand Trunk Express are :-

Traction

It is hauled by a Royapuram based WAP-7 locomotive on its entire journey.

See also

Related Research Articles

<i>Chennai Rajdhani Express</i> Train in India

The 12433 / 12434 MGR Chennai Central–Hazrat Nizamuddin Rajdhani Express is an important train connecting Chennai & New Delhi. According to 1997-98 railway budget, pantry car service was introduced on 2633/2634 Hazrat Nizamuddin-Chennai Rajdhani Express in 1996-97 and maybe it was introduced then (1996–97). Thiruvananthapuram Rajdhani Express used to terminate at Madras (Chennai) Central and presently avoids Chennai and it is older than the current Chennai Rajdhani Express and this Thiruvananthapuram Rajdhani Express was first introduced in 1993 and runs twice a week from Delhi and twice from Chennai. The Chennai Rajdhani is a fast alternative to the classic Grand Trunk Express and the modern Superfast Tamil Nadu Express. The Chennai Rajdhani Express covers a distance of 2176 kilometers in 28 hours 10 minutes as compared to 32 Hours covered by Tamil Nadu Express and 34 hours and 15 minutes taken by Grand Trunk Express. It shares the record of being the second fastest train between Chennai Central and Hazrat Nizamuddin covering the distance of 2175 km in 28 hours and 10 minutes as Chennai Duronto covering the 2,175 km journey in 27 hours and 55 minutes but in return it does not happen. It is the second fastest train from Chennai to Delhi after Duronto Express. It covers it's 2175 km distance in just 28 Hours

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Navjeevan Express</span> Train in India

The 12655 / 12656 Navjeevan Express is a Superfast Express train belonging to Southern Railways that runs between Ahmedabad Junction and Chennai Central. It is currently being operated with 12655/12656 train numbers on a daily basis. From November 2, 2019, it runs with highly refurbished LHB coach.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mangala Lakshadweep Express</span> Train in India

The 12617 / 12618 Mangala Lakshadweep Superfast Express is a Superfast train in India that runs between Hazrat Nizamuddin in Delhi and Ernakulam Junction in Kochi, Kerala via the Konkan Railway route. It is operated by Southern Railway with 12617 / 12618 train numbers. In 1973, the earlier version of this train was the first direct train to Kerala and Coastal Karnataka from the national capital. In its renewed form as Mangala Lakshadweep Express, it became the 1st daily train connecting North,Central Kerala and New Delhi after Kerala Express (1977). It is also regarded as the 1st daily direct access train to the national capital for the Malabar districts, Coastal Karnataka districts and Lakshadweep.It is the only train which connects Nashik,Manmad to Kerala apart from Coimbatore Jabalpur Express.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boat Mail Express</span> Train in India

The Rameswaram Express, previously known as the Boat Mail or Indo-Ceylon Express, is an express train that connects Rameswaram with the state capital Chennai via Tambaram, Chengalpet, Melmaruvattur, Viluppuram, Cuddalore port, Chidambaram, Sirkazhi, Mayiladuthurai, Tanjore, Tiruchchirappalli, Pudukkottai, Karaikudi, Sivagangai, Manamadurai, Paramakkudi and Ramanathapuram. During the 1900s, it was a combined train - steamer ferry- Train service between India and Ceylon. Connecting Chennai and Colombo, the system initially utilised a rail-to-sea operation, but changed to a rail-sea-rail operation. Passengers could buy a single ticket for the journey from Chennai to Colombo full stretch over sea journey. After Indian Independence, the ferry service was stopped and Train was running in the name Dhanushkodi Express from Chennai Egmore to Dhanushkodi. After the Cyclones ruined Dhanushkodi, the train service was stopped. Now, it runs from Chennai Egmore to Rameswaram via Villuppuram, Kumbakonam, Tiruchchirappalli, Pudukkottai, Karaikkudi, Devakottai, Manamadurai, Paramakkudi, Ramanathapuram, Mandapam, and Pamban.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thirukkural Express</span> Train in India

The 12641 / 12642 Thirukkural Express is a superfast express train in India, running between Kanniyakumari in Tamil Nadu which is the southernmost tip of the Indian Subcontinent, and Hazrat Nizamuddin in New Delhi. From December 2020, it runs with newly manufactured LHB rakes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Punjab Mail</span> Train in India

The 12137 / 12138 Punjab Mail is a Mail train of Indian Railways – Central Railway zone that runs between Mumbai and Ferozpur in India. It operates as train number 12137 from Mumbai CST to Ferozpur and as train number 12138 in the reverse direction. It is among the two daily trains that connect Mumbai and Firozpur, the other being the Firozpur Janata Express.

The 22455 / 22456 Sainagar Shirdi–Kalka Superfast Express is a Express train belonging to Indian Railways Northern Railway zone that run between Sainagar Shirdi and Kalka in India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andaman Express</span> Train in India

The 16031 / 16032 Andaman Express is a long-distance express train in India, connecting the cities of Chennai in Tamil Nadu and Katra, Jammu and Kashmir.

Howrah–Mumbai CSMT Mail, with train numbers 12321 and 12322 also known as Calcutta Mail during the pre-independence era, is a daily train running between two metro cities Kolkata, in West Bengal and Mumbai CSMT in Maharashtra. The train belongs to the Mail category and is operated by Indian Railways, with maintenance done and rolling stock provided by Eastern Railway.


The 11401 / 11402 Nandigram Express is an express train belonging to Indian Railways that runs between CSMT Mumbai and Balharshah both railway stations in Maharashtra.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chennai Egmore–Mangaluru Central Express</span>

Chennai Egmore–Mangaluru Central Express is an express train connecting Chennai in Tamil Nadu, India with Mangalore in Karnataka, India. The main cities it passes through are Chennai Egmore, Villuppuram, Tiruchirappalli, Karur, Erode, Coimbatore, Palakkad, Tirur (Malappuram), Kozhikode, Kannur, Kasargod and Mangalore

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Delhi–Chennai main line</span> Railway line in India

The New Delhi–Chennai main line is a railway line connecting Chennai and Delhi cutting across southern part of the Eastern Coastal Plains of India, the Eastern Ghats, the Deccan Plateau and the Yamuna valley. It covers a distance of 2,182 kilometres (1,356 mi) across Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. The route is used by the Grand Trunk Express and as such is referred to by many as the Grand Trunk Route.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mumbai CSMT–Amritsar Express</span> Train in India

The 11057 / 58 Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus–Amritsar Junction Express is an Express train belonging to Indian Railways – Central Railway zone that runs between Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus and Amritsar Junction in India. It operates as train number 11057 from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus to Amritsar Junction and as train number 11058 in the reverse direction, serving the states of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana, Delhi and Punjab.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anuvrat AC Superfast Express</span> Train in India

The 22631 / 22632 Anuvrat AC Superfast Express is an AC Express train belonging to Indian Railways – Southern Railway zone that runs between Madurai Junction and Bikaner Junction in India. This is the second longest running AC Superfast Express in India after the extension of Lokmanya Tilak Terminus–Agartala AC Express to Agartala.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ganga Kaveri Express</span> Train in India

The 12669 / 12670 Ganga Kaveri Express is a bi-weekly Express train service operated by Indian Railways, connecting Chennai in Southern India to Chhapra in Bihar. Inaugurated on 16 February 1977 by Kamalpati Tripathi, between Madras and Varanasi, was terminating at Chennai Beach Station, from where MG Ganga Kaveri Express used to run to Rameswaram through the Kaveri river basin. From May 2, 2022, it will run with the new highly refurbished LHB coach.

<i>Telangana Express</i> Train in India

The 12723 / 12724 Telangana Express is a Superfast Express of South Central Railways that runs between Hyderabad, capital of Telangana and national capital of India, New Delhi. It starts from Hyderabad Deccan Nampally and terminates at New Delhi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bhagat Ki Kothi–Mannargudi Weekly Express</span> Train in India

The 22673 / 22674 Bhagat Ki Kothi–Mannargudi Weekly Express is an Express train of the Indian Railways connecting Bhagat Ki Kothi in Rajasthan and Mannargudi in Tamil Nadu. It has been upgraded as a Superfast Express and is currently being operated with 22673/22674 train numbers after vivir lockdown on once a week basis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rameswaram–Manduadih Express</span>

The 22535 / 22536 Rameswaram–Banaras Express is an Express train belonging to Indian Railways – North Eastern Railway zone that runs between Rameswaram and Banaras in India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Puducherry–New Delhi Express</span> Indian Railways express train

The 22403 /04 Puducherry–New Delhi Express is a Express train belonging to Indian Railways – Northern Railway zone that runs between Puducherry and New Delhi in India via Chennai Egmore.

The 20973/20974 Firozpur – Rameswaram Humsafar Express is an express train of the Indian Railways connecting Firozpur Cantonment with Rameswaram. It is currently being operated with 20973/20974 train numbers on a weekly basis. After its extension from Ajmer to Firozpur, It became as the Longest Running Humsafar category train by just surpassing SMVT Bangalore Agartala Humsafar express. And also became as 5th longest train service by Indian Railways.

References

  1. 1 2 Railway Department, Government of India (1930). "Chapter IV-Transportation and Working". Report by the Railway board on Indian Railways for 1929-30:Volume I. Calcutta: Central Publication Branch, Government of India. p. 38.
  2. ↑ The Locomotive Railway Carriage and Wagon Review, Volume: XXVII.-January-December, 1921. 3, Amen Corner, Paternoster row, E.C.4: The Locomotive Publishing Company, Limited. 1921. p. 5.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
  3. ↑ "III". Report by the Railway board on Indian Railways for 1928-29:Volume I. Calcutta: Central Publication Branch, Government of India. 1930. p. 28.
  4. ↑ The Railway Magazine:Volume 64. IPC Business Press. 1929. p. 490.
  5. ↑ "[IRFCA] Khyber Pass Railway".
  6. ↑ "VIII". Report by the Railway board on Indian Railways for 1929-30:Volume I. Calcutta: Central Publication Branch, Government of India. 1930. p. 71.
  7. ↑ S. Shankar. "Classic Trains of India". Indian Railways Fan Club Association. Archived from the original on 4 May 2015. Retrieved 5 November 2013.
  8. ↑ "IV". Report by the Railway board on Indian Railways for 1930-31:Volume I. Calcutta: Central Publication Branch, Government of India. 1932. p. 36.
  9. ↑ "Grand Trunk Express train to be operated from Delhi Sarai Rohilla railway station". Times of India . Chennai. 3 September 2015. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
  10. ↑ "Indian Railway shifts terminals of 18 trains". Times of India . 21 May 2018.
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.