Service type Superfast Stops 46 Distance travelled 2,761 km (1,716 mi) | Current operator(s) Indian Railway End Ernakulam Junction | |
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Start Hazrat Nizamuddin railway station | ||
The Mangala Lakshadweep (Malayalam: മംഗള ലക്ഷദ്വീപ് എക്സ്പ്രസ്സ്)is a daily running Superfast Express train of Southern Railway and runs between Hazrat Nizamuddin railway station in Delhi and Ernakulam Junction in Kochi, Kerala via the Konkan railway route. It is currently being operated with 12617 / 12618 train numbers. This was the second daily train connecting Kerala state and New Delhi after Kerala Express and provided the first daily direct access to the national capital for the Malabar(North Kerala) districts and Coastal Karnataka districts. This train currently holds the record of being the longest running daily superfast train in India(3066 km in 48 hrs: 45 minutes at a rate of 63 km/hour). The next longest Superfast also is a train connecting Kerala state with the national capital, the Kerala Express running between Thiruvananthapuram Central and New Delhi which runs 3036 km daily in 50 hrs: 45 minutes at a rate of 60 km/hour.
Contents
The train's name
As the Konkan Railway was not yet constructed, the train was earlier running between Mangalore and Delhi in a roundabout route. Since the train was running till Mangalore, the name Mangala was derived from Mangaladevi, the most important deity of Mangalore city. Once the Konkan route was completed, this train was diverted via the Konkan. Later, This train was extended to Ernakulam Junction.
Traction
Commonly this train uses WAP4 of Erode from Ernakulam to ShorannurJn and changes to WDP 4,4B/4D of Golden Rock from Shorannur Jn. TO Igatpuri. Sometimes it heads with WDM3A/D . And from Igatpuri to H.Nizamuddin its hauled by BSL WAP4 or BSL WAM4.
Timings
This train leaves Ernakulam Junction at 13:15 (10:45 during monsoon timings) to reach Hazrat Nizamuddin Railway Station at 13:10 on the 3rd day. Return this train leaves NZM at 9:20 AM to reach Ernakulam Junction at 10:00 AM on the 3rd day. It covers a distance of 3067 km in about 48 hours at an average of 64 km/h (40 mph).
Accidents
On 22 February 2013, 4 coaches of the 12618 Hazrat Nizamuddin-Ernakulam Mangala Lakshadweep Express derailed near Nashik, leaving 20 persons injured. On 15 November 2013, 10 coaches including all the AC coaches of the 12618 Hazrat Nizamuddin-Ernakulam Mangala Lakshadweep Express derailed near Nashik again at 6:40 a.m., leaving 5 persons dead and 50 injured. In both cases, track rupture is suggested as cause of the accident. On 1 March 2015 3 coaches of 12617 ( S9, S10 & Pantry car) Hazrat Nizamuddin-Ernakulam derailed near Pen, Raigad district with no casualties reported since the train was just outbound on the station and picking up speed.