Overview | |
---|---|
Service type | Inter-city rail |
Status | Operating |
Locale | Kerala, Tamil Nadu |
First service | 20 April 2017(initial service between Palakkad Junction and Punalur) [1] 9 July 2018(extended to Tirunelveli Junction) [2] 15 August 2024(extended to Tuticorin) [3] |
Current operator(s) | Indian Railways |
Route | |
Termini | Tuticorin (TN) Palakkad Junction (PGT) |
Stops | 40 |
Distance travelled | 537 km (334 mi) |
Average journey time | 14 hrs |
Service frequency | Daily |
Train number(s) | 16791/16792 |
On-board services | |
Class(es) | 5 SL, 11 UR, 2 SLR |
Seating arrangements | Yes |
Sleeping arrangements | Yes |
Catering facilities | No |
Technical | |
Rolling stock | WAP-4 |
Track gauge | 5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) broad gauge |
Electrification | 25 kV AC 50 Hz |
Operating speed | 35 km/h (22 mph) |
Rake maintenance | Tuticorin |
The Palaruvi Express (Train number: 16791/16792) is a daily Intercity express train which runs between Tuticorin in Tamil Nadu and Palakkad Junction in Kerala via Tirunelveli Junction, Tenkasi Junction, Punalur, Kollam Junction, Tiruvalla and Kottayam. [4] The train first introduced between Punalur in Kollam and Palakkad. [5] On 9 July 2018, it was extended up to Tirunelveli Junction [6] and later on 15 August 2024 it was extended till Tuticorin. [7]
The train was introduced on 19 April 2017, [8] providing better connectivity to the Eastern Kollam region with Central Kerala and as a relief for daily commuters, especially office-goers who have been relying on Venad Express. [9] [10] [11] [12]
On 29 May 2022 it became the first train to pass through the doubled track between Ettumanoor-Kottayam-Chingavanam section which made the Thiruvananthapuram-Kottayam-Ernakulam-Mangaluru section completely doubled electrified line.
On 2024 July 28, the Palaruvi Express from Tirunelveli to Palakkad was the first electric train that passed through the recently electrified Sengottai - Kollam railway line.
The service runs from Tuticorin(16791) every night and reaches Palakkad Junction the following afternoon. Prominent stoppages include Tirunelveli Junction, Tenkasi Junction, Punalur, Kollam Junction , [a] Kayamkulam Junction, Tiruvalla, Kottayam, Ernakulam Town and Thrissur. On the return journey, the train leaves every evening, traverses the same route and reaches Tuticorin, next morning. [13]
The train reverses its direction at Kollam.
The train has eighteen coaches comprising five sleeper coaches, eleven unreserved general coaches and two luggage rakes. [14] [b]
Loco | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SLR | GEN | GEN | GEN | GEN | S1 | S2 | S3 | S4 | S5 | GEN | GEN | GEN | GEN | GEN | GEN | GEN | SLR | |
Since its introduction in April 2017, the train was running without even a single reservation compartment till September 2019. The train started 4 reservation sleeper compartments.
Kottarakkara, also transliterated as Kottarakara, is a town and municipality in the Kollam district of the Kerala, India. Kottarakkara lies 27 kilometres (17 mi) to the east of Kollam city centre.
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