''Amritha Express'' ( ml, അമൃത എക്സ്പ്രസ്സ്, link=no)( ta, அம்ருதா எக்ஸ்ப்ரஸ், link=no) is an overnight express train operated by the Southern Railway zone of the Indian Railways between in Kerala, and in Tamil Nadu.

Background

It was introduced in January 2001 by the then Railway Minister

O. Rajagopal Olanchery Rajagopal (born 15 September 1929) is an Indian politician, former Union Council of Ministers of India, Union Minister of State, and the former Member of the Legislative Assembly (India), MLA from Nemom (State Assembly constituency), ...

, from to . This train is named after Mata Amritanandamayi, a well known spiritual leader. At first, the train used to run between Thiruvananthapuram Central to Palakkad, then extended up to Pollachi later extended to . It starts from Thiruvananthapuram Central, runs via , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , then reaches Madurai Junction the next day.

History

It was first introduced as – Amritha Express, via . Later, from November 2015, it had been extended and operated as a special express between Palakkad Town and . Then, from 1 November 2017, Amritha Express was extended to with new stops at , Pollachi, , , and by withdrawing stoppage at Shoranur Junction. Starting from 16 November 2011, at , eight coaches from was linked with Amritha Express and ran as Thiruvananthapuram Central–Madurai Junction Amritha Express / Thiruvananthapuram Central–Nilambur Road Rajya Rani Express. On 5 May 2019, the link express from Nilambur Road was discontinued permanently, and both the trains ran as an independent train. Also Amritha Express was diverted to run via –– instead of Palakkad Junction–Shoranur Junction–Ottapalam–Thrissur. Therefore, Amritha Express will not touch Shoranur Junction, instead it will bypass Shoranur Junction. The link train Rajya Rani Express has got independent coaches and will run with new terminal from to Nilambur Road.

Locomotive

Starting from September 24, 2022, this train will be converted from ''Diesel locomotive'' journey to a fully complete ''Electric locomotive'' journey since the Palakkad-Dindigul line got completely electrified and CRS Inspection was successfully completed.

Timings

This train is a daily service train with the following departures and arrivals at some of these stations:-

Coach composition

* 1 AC Two Tier, * 2 AC Three Tier, * 14 Sleeper class, * 3 General Unreserved, * 2 Luggage cum Disabled coach.

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Amritha Express Transport in Thiruvananthapuram Named passenger trains of India Express trains in India Rail transport in Kerala Railway services introduced in 2001