Pallavan Superfast Express

Pallavan Superfast Express[lower-alpha 1] is a 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. Pallavan Express is fondly called as the PRINCE OF CHORD LINE. This train is one of the popular among the passengers even after introducing new trains like Tejas Express in that route. The rakes of this train was upgraded to brand new modern LHB rakes from 30 June 2019.

Pallavan Superfast Express
Old ICF Pallavan Superfast Express rushing past Mambalam
Overview
Service typeSuperfast Express
StatusOperating
First service15 August 1984 (1984-08-15)
Current operator(s)Southern Railway zone
Route
StartKaraikkudi Junction
Stops13
EndChennai Egmore
Distance travelled426 km (265 mi)
Average journey time6 hours, 45 minutes
Service frequencyDaily
Train number(s)12605/12606 [02605/02606(Covid-19 Special)]
Line(s) usedChord line
On-board services
Class(es)CC, 2S, SLR, SLRD and UR/GS
Disabled access
Seating arrangementsOpen coach
Sleeping arrangementsNo
Auto-rack arrangementsNo
Catering facilitiesYes
Observation facilitiesYes
Entertainment facilitiesNo
Baggage facilitiesOverhead racks
Technical
Rolling stockWAP7 (RPM/ED)
Three AC Chair car
Thirteen Non-AC 2S
Three UR/GS
One EOG
One SLRD
Track gauge1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in)
Electrification25 kV AC 50 Hz
Operating speedAverage Speed 64 km/h (40 mph) Max Speed 110kmph
Track owner(s)Southern Railway zone
Timetable number(s)21/21A[1]
Route map

History

The Pallavan Superfast Express was introduced to run parallel to the Vaigai Superfast Express, which could not complete the round trip between Madurai and Chennai. The express was initially introduced on 15 August 1977 between Chennai and Madurai as a daily day express service with two dedicated rakes.[2] On 15 August 1984, this train was short terminated till trichy and two rakes utilised for this train is reduced to single rake and converted into intercity express similar to vaigai super fast express and it's rakes are shared with vaigai super fast express at chennai egmore. Later, it was extended till Karaikudi, effective from 1 September 2013. The express along with Vaigai express serves as fastest public commutation mode between Chennai and Trichy apart from air. The Express makes the 426 kilometres (265 mi) run in 6 hours 45 mins with only 12 stops.

It is the most popular day train for travel between Karaikudi and Chennai Egmore via Trichy, making the one-way trip in just over 6 hours 45 mins as compared to the 9–10 hours by road.

This train runs at its max permit speed 110 kmph between Chennai Egmore and Tiruchchirappalli.

History of Uniqueness

In early 1980s Vaigai Superfast and Pallavan Superfast were the only trains in their section with "SUPERFAST" tag.

It had different color liveries in its old days. Like Vaigai Superfast From its original yellow-green combination to white-gray-red livery and then again to vermillon red - cream livery and again to cream-brown livery on the MG.

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 these trains.

This is the only train in Indian Railways which had a unique coach PS1, PANTRY CAR CUM CHAIR CAR coach where half of the coach is Pantry car and another half is normal Chair Car. But it was replaced with AC hot buffet car after LHB upgradation.

Even though Tejas Express and many more trains ply between Chennai - Tiruchchirappalli, Pallavan Superfast tops the list for Trichy-Chennai-Trichy travelers followed by Vaigai Superfast and Rockfort Express.

Schedule

As per latest schedule 12606 Pallavan Express departs Karaikudi Junction at 05:30 AM then reaches Tiruchchirappalli Junction at 06:50 AM, reaches Villupuram Junction at 09:30 AM and will reach its final destination Chennai Egmore at 12:15 PM 

And 12605 Pallavan Express departs Chennai Egmore at 03:45 PM then reaches Villupuram Junction at 06:05 PM and arrives Tiruchchirappalli Junction around 08.45 PM and reaches Karaikkudi Junction at 10:25 PM 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.

Loco and Rakes

This train is being hauled by an electric locomotive ED/RPM WAP 7 between Chennai Egmore and Karaikudi Junction and vice-versa.

Cocah position of 12606 Karaikkudi-Chennai Pallavan Superfast. The reverse of this table is the coach position of 12605 Chennai-Karaikkudi Pallavan Superfast.

Loco 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23
EOGURC1C2C3D1D2D3D4D5D6D7PCD8D9D10D11D12D13URUREOG

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

Then from 1999 this train was converted to broad gauge and GOC WDM series green livery alco hauled this train.

Chord line was electrified and from 2012, this train used AJJ/ED WAP4 or RPM/ED WAP7 between Chennai and Tiruchchirappalli.

After getting extended to Karaikkudi a GOC WDP4 series or GOC WDM series was usually made as onlink for this train between Tiruchchirappalli and Karaikkudi.

The rakes are maintained at Madurai.

Tiruchchirappalli-Karaikkudi section got electrified and from 25 February 2022 Pallavan Superfast was the very first train to get Electric loco in Tiruchchirappalli-Karaikkudi section. (RPM/ED WAP7 end to end).

Station Stops

Chennai to Karaikudi (12605/02605)

List of stops on the Pallavan Express from Chennai to Karaikudi (Train No(s) : 12605/02605).[4]

Stop No Station Code Station Arrival/Departure Distance (km)
1 MS Chennai Egmore Starts 15:45 0
2 TBM Tambaram 16:13/16:15 25
3 CGL Chengalpattu Junction 16:43/16:45 56
4 MLMR Melmaruvattur 17:08/17:10 91
5 VM Villupuram Junction 18:05/18:10 158
6 VRI Vridachalam Junction 18:50/18:52 213
7 ALU Ariyalur 19:26/19:27 260
8 LLI Lalgudi 19:54/19:55 309
9 SRGM Srirangam 20:10/20:12 324
10 GOC Ponmalai Golden Rock 20:22/20:23 333
11 TPJ Tiruchirappalli Junction 20:45/20:50 336
12 PDKT Pudukkottai 21:43/21:45 389
13 KKDI Karaikudi Junction 22:35 Ends 425

Karaikudi to Chennai (12606/02606)

List of stops on the Pallavan Express from Karaikudi to Chennai (Train No(s) : 12605/02605).[5]

Stop No Station Code Station Arrival/Departure Distance (km)
1 KKDI Karaikkudi Junction Starts 05:30 0
2 PDKT Pudukottai 06:03/06:05 36
3 TPJ Tiruchchirappalli Junction 06:50/06:55 89
4 SRGM Srirangam 07:15/07:17 101
5 LLI Lalgudi 07:32/07:33 116
6 ALU Ariyalur 08:05/08:06 159
7 VRI Vridhachalam Junction 08:38/08:40 214
8 VM Villupuram Junction 09:28/09:30 267
9 MLMR Melmaruvattur 10:18/10:20 335
10 CGL Chengalpattu Junction 10:48/10:50 370
11 TBM Tambaram 11:18/11:20 401
12 MBM Mambalam 11:38/11:40 419
13 MS Chennai Egmore 12:15 Ends 426

Demands

There are also demands for extending this train from Karaikudi Junction to Manamadurai Junction with a stoppage at sivaganga.[6]

See also

Notes
  1. The Train was named as to commemorate the Pallavas Kingdom, who ruled over the parts that is the present Chennai and its surroundings.

References
  1. "Trains at a Glance July 2013 – June 2014". Indian Railways. Retrieved 22 December 2013.
  2. "Glorious days of Vaigai Express! - David Pravin - Trip Report | IRFCA.org". www.irfca.org. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  3. https://indiarailinfo.com/train/-train-pallavan-superfast-express-12605/1221/779/3073
  4. http://enquiry.indianrail.gov.in/ntes/
  5. http://enquiry.indianrail.gov.in/ntes/
  6. Correspondent, Special (26 June 2019). "Karti Chidambaram for re-scheduling of some trains". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 31 December 2021.
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