Pallavan Express is an

Intercity express The Intercity Express (commonly known as ICE ()) is a system of high-speed trains predominantly running in Germany. It also serves some destinations in Austria, Denmark (ceased in 2017 but planned to resume in 2022), France, Belgium, Switzerl ...

typed superfast service operated by the Southern Railway zone of the

Indian Railways Indian Railways (IR) is a statutory body under the ownership of Ministry of Railways, Government of India that operates India's national railway system. It manages the fourth largest national railway system in the world by size, with a tot ...

. This service connects the cities of

Chennai Chennai (, ), formerly known as Madras ( the official name until 1996), is the capital city of Tamil Nadu, the southernmost Indian state. The largest city of the state in area and population, Chennai is located on the Coromandel Coast of ...

Karaikudi Karaikudi is a Greater municipality in Sivagangai district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is the 21st largest urban agglomeration of Tamil Nadu based on 2011 census data. It is part of the area commonly referred to as "Chettinad" and has ...

via

Tiruchirappalli Tiruchirappalli () ( formerly Trichinopoly in English), also called Tiruchi or Trichy, is a major tier II city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and the administrative headquarters of Tiruchirappalli district. The city is credited with bei ...

in the

India India, officially the Republic of India ( Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the ...

state State may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Literature * ''State Magazine'', a monthly magazine published by the U.S. Department of State * ''The State'' (newspaper), a daily newspaper in Columbia, South Carolina, United States * '' Our ...

Tamil Nadu Tamil Nadu (; , TN) is a state in southern India. It is the tenth largest Indian state by area and the sixth largest by population. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu is the home of the Tamil people, whose Tamil languag ...

. The rakes of this train was upgraded to brand new modern LHB rakes from 30 June 2019. Pallavan Superfast is fondly known as "PRINCE OF CHORD LINE" along with Vaigai Superfast known as "CHORD LINE BROTHERS".

History

The Pallavan Express was introduced to run parallel to the

Vaigai Express The Vaigai Superfast Express is a Intercity express typed super fast express train running daily between Madurai and Chennai via Tiruchirappalli operated by Southern Railway zone of the Indian Railways. Due to the demand for a day train ...

, which could not complete the round trip between

Madurai Madurai ( , also , ) is a major city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is the cultural capital of Tamil Nadu and the administrative headquarters of Madurai District. As of the 2011 census, it was the third largest Urban agglomeration in ...

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 in the name of Madurai Pallavan Express for supplying rakes for Vaigai Express at Chennai Egmore. On 15 August 1984, this train was short terminated till Thiruchchirappalli Jn. and two rakes utilised for this train is reduced to single rake and converted into

similar to Vaigai Superfast Express and its rakes are shared with vaigai super fast express at Chennai Egmore remains same. Later, it was extended till Karaikudi, effective from 1 September 2013. The express along with Vaigai Superfast Express serves as fastest public commutation mode between Chennai and Trichy apart from air. The Express makes the run in 6 hours 45 mins with only 12 stops. It is the most popular day train for travel between Tiruchchirappalli Junction and Chennai Egmore. It maintains excellent speed in its whole way making the one-way trip in just over 5 hours as compared to the 79 hours by road. Pallavan Superfast is fondly called as "Prince of Chord line" and its Rake sharing partner Vaigai Superfast is known as "King of Chord line". This train runs at its max permit speed 130 kmph between Chennai Egmore and Tiruchchirappalli.

Pictures

File:Decorated name board of Pallavan Superfast.jpg, Decorated name board on 38th anniversary, 2022 File:Pallavan Superfast entering Srirangam Station.jpg, Pallavan entering its one of the high patronage stop Srirangam, Tiruchchirappalli File:Pallavan Superfast name board.jpg, Pallavan Superfast name board File:Pallavan Superfast in Chennai suburbs.jpg, Pallavan Superfast curving after Nunghambakkam, Chennai File:Pallavan Superfast Exiting Srirangam.jpg, Pallavan Superfast exiting Srirangam, Tiruchchirappalli File:Pallavan Superfast entering Villupuram Junction.jpg, Pallavan Superfast curving into Villupuram Junction

Schedule

The Pallavan Express departs Karaikudi Junction at 05:35 AM then reaches

Tiruchirappalli Junction Tiruchchirappalli Junction railway station, also known as Trichy Junction railway station (station code: TPJ) is a junction station in Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu. It serves as the headquarters for Tiruchirappalli railway division of the Sout ...

at 06:50 AM, and will reach its final destination

Chennai Egmore Chennai Egmore, formerly known as Madras Egmore, also known as Chennai Elumbur (station code: MS), is a railway station in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. Situated in the neighborhood of Egmore, it is one of the four intercity railway terminals in t ...

at 12:15 PM And 12605 Pallavan Express departs Chennai Egmore at 15:45 PM then arrives

around 20:40 PM and reaches Karaikkudi Junction at 22:25 PMpm. The train has one pantry car for providing continuous refreshment/food supply to passengers. Food fares are applicable and will be in good quality.

Locomotive

This train is being hauled by an electric locomotive

WAP 7 The Indian locomotive class WAP-7 is a class of 25 kV AC electric locomotives that was developed in 1999 by Chittaranjan Locomotive Works (CLW) for Indian Railways. The model name stands for broad gauge (W), AC Current (A), Passenger traffic ...

from Electric Loco Shed, Royapuram between Chennai Egmore and Karaikudi Junction and vice versa.

Rakes

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 Karaikudi is a Greater municipality in Sivagangai district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is the 21st largest urban agglomeration of Tamil Nadu based on 2011 census data. It is part of the area commonly referred to as " Chettinad" and has ...

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

Demands

There are also demands to extend this train from Karaikudi Junction to Manamadurai Junction which is further 62 kms away from Karaikudi junction along with a stoppage at Sivaganga.

Accident

On 25 April 2018, Front wheels of WDP4D numbered 40405 which hauled 12606 UP Karaikkudi - Chennai Pallavan Superfast Express derailed while entering Tiruchchirappalli Junction railway station at 6:27 am. It was reported due to rail fracture, no injures and casualties reported. Then train was moved further with the delay of three hours towards

Notes

References

External links

Southern Railway
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pallavan Express Transport in Chennai Named passenger trains of India Express trains in India Rail transport in Tamil Nadu Railway services introduced in 1984