Current operator(s) Indian Railway Stops 29 Distance travelled 327 km (203 mi) | Start Shoranur End Trivandrum Central Average journey time 7 hours 50 minutes | |
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The Venad Express (Malayalam: വേണാട് എക്സ്പ്രസ്സ്) is an express train which runs daily between Shoranur Junction and Trivandrum Central via Kottayam. It is numbered 16301 (from Shoranur Junction to Trivandrum Central) and 16302 (from Trivandrum Central to Shoranur Junction).
Contents
History
Venad Express was introduced in 1972 by Southern Railways. The train used the 1,000 mm (3 ft 3 3⁄8 in) metre gauge track between Trivandrum Central and Ernakulam. It was hauled by diesel engines. The train from Trivandrum Central started at 5.30 am and reached Ernakulam Junction by 9.30 am. On the return direction the train leaves Ernakulam Junction at 17:15pm and reached Trivandrum Central by 21:30 pm. In 1976 the tracks were converted to broad gauge and the broad gauge train was introduced. The train had a green livery initially. The train was later extended to Shoranur after some years and timings were also revised. Venad Express is one of the oldest daily Intercity trains in Kerala and one of the most popular trains to travel between Trivandrum, the state capital, and Ernakulam (Kochi), the most cosmopolitan city in the state. In the 1980s Indian Railways introduced double-decker coaches for the Venad Express. But railways later withdrew the double decker compartments due to operational issues.
Name
The name Venad came from an old dynasty Venad Swarupam that ruled over Quilon and Thiruvananthapuram, headquartered in Quilon(Kollam)
Frequency
This train runs daily. Train no. 16301 departs Shoranur Junction at 14:25 hrs and reaches Trivandrum Central at 22:20 hrs. Train no. 16302 departs Trivandrum Central at 05:00 hrs and reaches Shoranur Junction at 12:45 hrs. It covers a distance of 327 kilometres (203 mi) in each direction and takes 7 hours and 50 minutes.
Venad Express links the major commercial hubs in Kerala including Thrissur, Alwaye, Ernakulam, Kottayam, Tiruvalla, Kayamkulam, Kollam with Trivandrum. It is a very popular commuter train used by daily office-goers. The train is generally fully booked even during holidays.
Coach composition
The rake has 16 unreserved coaches, a second-class sitting coach, an AC chair car coach, a pantry car and 2 SLR cars making a total of 23 coaches. One unreserved and one SLR car are exclusively for ladies.
Advance reservation is available only in two compartments. Seats can be reserved through IRCTC website or from railway station. Venad Express also has a first class coach. Other coaches can be boarded with an unreserved ticket.
Rake/Coach Composition
SLR - Sitting cum Luggage Rake
UR - Unreserved
D - Second Sitting
C - AC Chair Car
PC - Pantry Car