Pallavan Express

Pallavan Express
Pallavan Express
	Chennai Egmore - Karaikudi Pallavan Superfast Express At Chennai Egmore with 30421 RPM/WAP-7
Overview
Service type	Superfast
Status	Active
First service	15 August 1984;39 years ago
Current operator(s)	Indian Railways
Website	www.indianrailways.gov.in
Route
Termini	Karaikkudi Junction (KKDI); Chennai Egmore (MS)
Stops	11
Distance travelled	426 km (265 mi)
Average journey time	6 hours, 50 minutes
Service frequency	Daily
Train number(s)	(Down) 12605; (Up) 12606;
Line(s) used	Chord line
On-board services
Class(es)	3 A/C Chair Car; 13 Non A/C Chair Car; 3 Unreserved; 2 EOG; 1 Pantry (A/C Hot Buffet);
Disabled access
Seating arrangements	Open coach
Sleeping arrangements	No
Auto-rack arrangements	No
Catering facilities	Yes
Entertainment facilities	No
Baggage facilities	Overhead racks
Other facilities	Yes
Technical
Rolling stock	WAP7 (RPM)
Track gauge	1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in)
Electrification	25 kV AC 50 Hz
Operating speed	69 km/h (43 mph) Max Speed 110 kmph
Average length	22 Coaches
Track owner(s)	Southern Railway zone
Timetable number(s)	21/21A
Rake maintenance	Madurai depot
Rake sharing	Vaigai Superfast Express
Route map
Route map

Last updated June 19, 2024

Pallavan Superfast Express^{[lower-alpha 1]} is an Intercity express typed superfast service operated by the Southern Railway zone of the Indian Railways. This service connects the cities of Chennai to Karaikudi via Tiruchirappalli in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The rakes of this train was upgraded to brand new modern LHB rakes from 30 June 2019.

History

The Pallavan Express was introduced to run along with the Vaigai Express, where both provided high speed connectivity from Chennai to Madurai being prestigious trains of Metre Gauge era. The express was initially introduced on 15 August 1984 between Chennai and Madurai as a daily day express service with remaining rakes of Vaigai Superfast Express.^[1]

Both Pallavan and Vaigai Express were the fastest and iconic trains on Chennai - Tiruchchirappalli Metre Gauge route ^[2] where they took approximately 5 hours 40 minutes to cover 330 km where other trains took approx 7–8 hours. It gets full priority enroute where it doesn't stops for any crossings.

Vaigai and Pallavan are the only MG trains on the SR to be fitted with specially enhanced buffers and certified to run at 110 km/h.

For the first time on the MG, the ICF manufactured two 40-seat AC chair car coaches exclusively for the Vaigai and Pallavan express and used in those trains.

Pallavan Express ran as a clone train to Vaigai Express. From 1984 to 1986 115 DOWN Pallavan departed Madras Egmore at 05:35 and reached Madurai Junction around 14:30 again 116 UP Pallavan departed from Madurai at 15:00 and reached Madras Egmore at 22:30. By that time it had only 3 stops Villupuram Junction, Tiruchchirappalli Junction and Dindigul Junction.

Then from 1986, Pallavan SuperFast Express was made to run till Tiruchchirappalli Junction where it faced a slot change. It departed Tiruchchirappalli Junction around 6:15 and reached Madras Egmore at 11:30 and departed Madras Egmore at 15:30 and reached Tiruchchirappalli Junction at 20:45. It had 3 stops, Villupuram Junction, Vridhachalam Junction and Srirangam.

Later, in 1998 this train got converted to Broad Gauge and stops were increased due to demand. Chengalpattu, Melmaruvathur, Ariyalur, Lalgudi stops were added in year 2000–2006.

And its rakes are shared with Vaigai Super Fast Express at Chennai Egmore remains same since 1986. Both Vaigai and Pallavan were the only SuperFast trains in Chennai - Tiruchchirappalli - Madurai section till 2000.

27 years later, it was extended till Karaikudi, effective from 1 September 2013. This express runs along with Vaigai Superfast serves as fastest public commutation mode between Chennai and Tiruchchirappalli/Karaikkudi apart from air.

Schedule

The Pallavan Express departs Karaikudi Junction at 05:35 AM then reaches Tiruchirappalli Junction at 06:50 AM, and will reach its final destination Chennai Egmore at 12:10 PM

And 12605 Pallavan Express departs Chennai Egmore at 03:45 PM then arrives Tiruchirappalli Junction around 08:40 PM and reaches Karaikkudi Junction at 10:35 PM .^[3]

The train has one pantry car for providing continuous refreshment/food supply to passengers. Food fares are applicable and will be in good quality.

Rakes

Coach Position of 12606 KKDI MS PALLAVAN SUPERFAST

Loco	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22
	EOG	UR	C1	C2	C3	D1	D2	D3	D4	D5	D6	D7	PC	D8	D9	D10	D11	D12	D13	UR	UR	SLR

Initially when introduced between Chennai and Tiruchchirappalli in 1984 YDM4 was used to haul this train in MG.

Chord line was electrified and from 2012, this train used AJJ/ED WAP4.

Currently it is regularly hauled by RPM or ED WAP7

The rakes are maintained at Madurai.

Developments

Strong demands arising to operate this train from Tiruchchirappalli Junction like earlier days as this train has high patronage in Tiruchchirappalli suburbs.

There are also demands to extend this train from Karaikudi Junction to Manamadurai Junction which is further 62 km away from Karaikudi junction along with a stoppages at Devakottai Road, Kallal and Sivaganga.^[4]

Incidents

On 25 April 2018, Front wheels of WDP4D numbered 40405 which hauled 12606 UP Karaikkudi - Chennai Pallavan Superfast Express derailed while entering Tiruchchirappalli Junction railway station at 6:27 am. It was reported due to rail fracture, no injures and casualties reported. Then train was moved further with the delay of three hours towards Chennai.^[5]

Notes

↑ The train was named to commemorate the Pallavas Kingdom, who ruled over the parts that is the present Chennai and its surroundings.

Related Research Articles

The Pearl City (Muthunagar) Super Fast Express is an overnight Superfast Express train of the Southern Railway zone of the Indian Railways. The Pearl City (Muthunagar) Superfast Express runs between Thoothukudi and Chennai Egmore via Virudunagar, Madurai, Dindigul, Tiruchchirappalli, Vriddhachalam, Villupuram and Chengalpattu.

The 12653 / 12654 Rockfort Express is a Superfast Express overnight Express rail connecting Tiruchirappalli with Chennai Egmore via Villupuram in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. This train serves as the main connectivity to the state capital Chennai city and Tiruchirappalli city along the route.

The Pandian Express is a Superfast overnight express train of the Southern Railway zone of the Indian Railways which runs daily between Madurai Junction and Chennai Egmore via Villupuram, Vridhachalam and Tiruchirappalli. The inaugural run of this express train is during Oct 01, 1969 on Wednesday.

The Vaigai Express is an Intercity Express high-speed express train which runs daily between Madurai and Chennai, via Tiruchirappalli. It is operated by the Southern Railway zone of the Indian Railways and was introduced due to increasing demand for a day train between the cities during the 1970s. It was the first instance in which a high-speed train was introduced on a metre-gauge railway within the Southern Railway zone. Vaigai SuperFast is fondly referred to as the "King of Southern Railway"; and its rake sharer Pallavan Express "Prince of Southern Railway" running between Chennai Egmore and Karaikudi Junction are collectively known as the "Chord Line brothers".

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

Chennai Egmore–Guruvayur Express is one of the express trains of Southern Railway zone in India, which runs between Chennai Egmore in Tamilnadu to Guruvayur in Kerala. This train is the successor the erstwhile Chennai Egmore (MS) - Cochin Harbour Terminus (CHTS) Mixed Express. The Mixed Express stopped running after Cochin Harbour Terminus (CHTS) was closed down for Passenger services in 2000.

Ananthapuri Superfast Express is an superfast express train running between Kollam Junction and Chennai Egmore via Thiruvananthapuram Central, Tirunelveli Junction, Virudhunagar junction, Madurai Junction, Tiruchchirappalli Junction and Villupuram Junction through the trunk line and chord lines in southern India. It is a daily overnight Superfast Express service.

The 12651 / 12652 Tamil Nadu Sampark Kranti Express is one of the Sampark Kranti Express trains, operating on India's broad-gauge network that connects Madurai Junction in Tamil Nadu and Hazrat Nizamuddin in New Delhi, a distance of approximately 2,676 kilometres (1,663 mi) in 42 hours approximately, maintaining an average speed of 63 km/h (39 mph). From April 2021, it runs with newly manufactured highly refurbished LHB rakes.

The Howrah–Kanyakumari Express is a Superfast inter-city express service connecting Howrah (Kolkata), West Bengal with Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu in India. It runs with highly refurbished LHB coaches designed at ICF, Chennai.

Rameswaram–Tirupati Express connects Holy Island Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu with Holy City Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh. This train covers a total distance of about 808 kilometres (502 mi). This train is also called as Meenakshi Express as it travels via Temple City of Madurai. The train goes via Madurai, Tiruchchirappalli, Thanjavur, Mayiladuthurai, Viluppuram, Tiruvannamalai, Vellore and Katpadi. It recently runs with refurbished Utkrist coaches.

The Silambu Super fast Express (20681/20682) is a train that runs between Chennai Egmore and Sengottai via Karaikkudi Junction. Initially it ran up to Manamadurai, later it was extended up to Sengottai. It was the only train in Indian Railways where LHB rakes were replaced by ICF coaches again. According to IR if a train gets new LHB coaches it won't be converted to ICF. But this train was again replaced with ICF coaches after getting new LHB rakes.

The Chennai Egmore–Thanjavur main line connects Chennai Egmore and Thanjavur Junction both in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The Chennai Egmore–Thanjavur main line is part of Chennai–Viluppuram–Chidambaram-Mayiladuthurai–Kumbakonam–Thanjavur–Tiruchirappalli line. There are several branch lines : Chengalpattu–Arakkonam links to Chennai Central–Bengaluru City line, Guntakal–Chennai Egmore section, Viluppuram–Puducherry, Cuddalore–Virudhachalam, Mayiladuthurai–Thiruvarur, and Peralam–Nagapattinam sectors. The line connects the Kaveri delta to Chennai.

The 12663 / 12664 Tiruchirappalli – Howrah Superfast Express is an inter-city Express service connecting Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu with Howrah (Kolkata), West Bengal in India. The train is the first long-distance train operated by Tiruchirappalli railway division from Tiruchirappalli Junction, running beyond Tamil Nadu border.

The Madurai Junction–Chennai Egmore Superfast Express or Mahal Superfast Express is a Superfast Express train belonging to Indian Railways – Southern Railway zone that runs between Madurai Junction and Chennai Egmore in India.

The 22157 / 22158 Mumbai–Chennai Mail is a train belonging to Indian Railways – Central Railway zone that runs between Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus & Chennai Egmore in India. It was earlier known as Bombay–Madras Mail.

The Tiruchirappalli–Mayiladuthurai Express is a train which runs from Trichy to Mayiladuthurai in Tamil Nadu, India. This train is operated and the rakes are owned by South Western Railway. The train has numbered as (16233/16234) in both directions.

This is the timeline for Southern Railway zone that encompasses over present day Tamil Nadu, Kerala and parts of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.

The Chennai Egmore–Karaikal Kamban Express is an Express train belonging to Southern Railway zone that runs between Chennai Egmore and Karaikal in India. It is currently being operated with 16175/16176 train numbers on a daily basis.

The 20691 / 20692 Tambaram–Nagercoil Antyodaya Express is an express train of the Indian Railways connecting Chennai Tambaram and Nagercoil Junction in Tamil Nadu. It is operated daily from Chennai Tambaram to Nagercoil Junction as train number 20691, and from Nagercoil Junction to Chennai Tambaram as train number 20692.

Alappuzha (Alleppey)–MGR Chennai Central Superfast Express is a class of Superfast Express train that runs daily from Chennai Central to Alappuzha. It is one of the oldest trains in the Southern Railway zone of the Indian Railways It is one of the prestigious train of Kerala.

References

↑ "Glorious days of Vaigai Express! - David Pravin - Trip Report | IRFCA.org". www.irfca.org. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
↑ "Historical Timetable Archive | IRFCA.org". www.irfca.org. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
↑ "12605/Pallavan SuperFast Express - Chennai Egmore to Karaikkudi SR/Southern Zone - Railway Enquiry".
↑ "Karti Chidambaram for re-scheduling of some trains". The Hindu. 26 June 2019. ISSN 0971-751X . Retrieved 20 December 2022.
↑ Rajaram, R. (25 April 2018). "Derailment of Pallavan Express at Tiruchi hits rail traffic". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X . Retrieved 14 February 2023.

External links

Southern Railway

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.

[1] The train was named to commemorate the Pallavas Kingdom, who ruled over the parts that is the present Chennai and its surroundings.

[2] "Glorious days of Vaigai Express! - David Pravin - Trip Report | IRFCA.org". www.irfca.org. Retrieved 29 April 2022.

[3] "Historical Timetable Archive | IRFCA.org". www.irfca.org. Retrieved 26 January 2024.

[4] "12605/Pallavan SuperFast Express - Chennai Egmore to Karaikkudi SR/Southern Zone - Railway Enquiry".

[5] "Karti Chidambaram for re-scheduling of some trains". The Hindu. 26 June 2019. ISSN 0971-751X . Retrieved 20 December 2022.

[6] Rajaram, R. (25 April 2018). "Derailment of Pallavan Express at Tiruchi hits rail traffic". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X . Retrieved 14 February 2023.

[lower-alpha 1]

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]