Service type Superfast Current operator(s) Southern Railway zone | Status Operating Start Karaikkudi Junction | |
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First service 15 August 1984; 32 years ago (1984-08-15) Stops 13 (Loco change) From TPJ | ||
Pallavan Superfast Express 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.
Contents
General information
The Pallavan Express was introduced to run parallel to the Vaigai Express, which could not complete the round trip between Madurai and Chennai. The express was initially introduced between Chennai and Trichy on 15 August 1984. 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 7.15 hours with only 13 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 7 hours as compared to the 9–10 hours by road. The train attains its maximum speed of 110 kilometres per hour (68 mph) on the Vriddhachalam-Villupuram segment of the line.
Timings
In recent developments, the train which departs Karaikudi at 05:00 hrs arrives Trichy at 06.30 hrs and reaches Chennai Egmore at 12:20 hrs. Then it swaps as Vaigai Express departing at 13.30 hrs for Madurai. As the other pair of Vaigai Express arrives Chennai Egmore at 14:40 hrs, the train is swapped as Pallavan Express, departing at 15:45 hrs arrives Trichy at 21.00 hrs and reaches Karaikudi at 23.00 hrs. (Via. Chord Line) The train has one pantry car for providing continuous refreshment/food supply to passengers. The pantry coach, denoted as PS1, which is a Pantry-cum Coach car (Reserved), which serves good quality of eatery and variety of soups/snacks/beverages at an affordable prices during the journey. This Train runs via the Chord line through Tiruchirappalli.
Rakes
The train is being hauled by an electric loco (RPM WAP7) between Chennai Egmore and Tiruchirappalli Junction. And between Tiruchirappalli Junction and Karaikudi, it is hauled by diesel loco (GOC WDP4B) (frequently by #40063), since the line is not electrified and vice versa. The PS1 coach in this train is a Pantry-cum-Coach car, where half of the coach is used as a kitchen and the other half is used as a normal passenger coach. This train shares its rakes with Vaigai Express.
Coaches are maintained at SSE/C&W/MDU.