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Pallavan Superfast Express[lower-alpha 1] is an Intercity express typed 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. Pallavan Express is fondly called as the PRINCE OF CHORD LINE. This train is one of the popular trains in that route. The rakes of this train was upgraded to brand new modern LHB rakes from 30 June 2019.

Pallavan Superfast Express

Old ICF Pallavan Superfast Express rushing past Mambalam
Overview
Service type	Superfast Express
Status	Operating
First service	15 August 1984; 38 years ago (1984-08-15)
Current operator(s)	Southern Railway zone
Route
Termini	Karaikkudi Junction Chennai Egmore
Stops	13
Distance travelled	426 km (265 mi)
Average journey time	6 hours, 45 minutes
Service frequency	Daily
Train number(s)	12605/12606 [02605/02606(Covid-19 Special)]
Line(s) used	Chord line
On-board services
Class(es)	CC, 2S, SLR, UR/GS and EOG
Disabled access
Seating arrangements	Open coach
Sleeping arrangements	No
Auto-rack arrangements	No
Catering facilities	Yes
Observation facilities	Yes
Entertainment facilities	No
Baggage facilities	Overhead racks
Technical
Rolling stock	WAP7 (RPM), WAP4 (AJJ, ED) Three AC Chair car Thirteen Non-AC 2S Three UR/GS One EOG One SLRD
Track gauge	1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in)
Electrification	25 kV AC 50 Hz
Operating speed	Average Speed 64 km/h (40 mph) Max Speed 110kmph
Track owner(s)	Southern Railway zone
Timetable number(s)	21/21A[1]
Rake maintenance	Madurai
Rake sharing	Vaigai Superfast Express
Route map

History

The Pallavan Superfast Express was introduced to run parallel to the Vaigai Superfast Express, which could not complete the round trip between Madurai 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.[2] 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 Intercity express 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 426 km run in 6 hours 45 mins with only 12 stops.

It is the most popular day train for travel between Karaikudi Jn. and Chennai Egmore via Trichy, making the one-way trip in just over 6 hours 45 mins as compared to the 9–10 hours by road.

This train runs at its max permit speed 110 kmph between Chennai Egmore and Tiruchchirappalli.

History of Uniqueness

In early 1980s Vaigai Superfast and Pallavan Superfast were the only trains in their section with "SUPERFAST" tag.

It had different color liveries in its old days. Like Vaigai Superfast From its original yellow-green combination to white-gray-red livery and then again to vermillon red - cream livery and again to cream-brown livery on the MG.

For the first time on the MG, the ICF manufactured two 40-seat AC chair car coaches exclusively for the Vaigai and Pallavan express and used in these trains.

This is the only train in Indian Railways which had a unique coach PS1, PANTRY CAR CUM CHAIR CAR coach where half of the coach is Pantry car and another half is normal Chair Car. But it was replaced with AC hot buffet car after LHB upgradation.

Even though Tejas Express and many more trains ply between Chennai - Tiruchchirappalli, Pallavan Superfast tops the list for Trichy-Chennai-Trichy travelers followed by Vaigai Superfast and Rockfort Express.

It is the first Super fast category Express train in history to run between Tiruchirappalli - Karaikudi Section of Tiruchirappalli - Manamadurai Line and it is also the very first train in history to get electric locomotive between Tiruchirappalli - Karaikudi Section of Tiruchirappalli - Manamadurai Line from 25 February 2022.

Gallery

Schedule

As per latest schedule 12606 Pallavan Express departs Karaikudi Junction at 05:35 AM then reaches Tiruchirappalli Junction at 06:50 AM, and will reach its final destination Chennai Egmore at 12:15 PM 

And 12605 Pallavan Express departs Chennai Egmore at 03:45 PM then arrives Tiruchirappalli Junction around 08.40 PM and reaches Karaikkudi Junction at 10:25 PM pm.[3]

The train has one pantry car for providing continuous refreshment/food supply to passengers. Food fares are applicable and will be in good quality.

Loco and Rakes

This train is being hauled by an electric locomotive ED/RPM WAP 7 between Chennai Egmore and Karaikudi Junction and vice versa.

Cocah position of 12606 Karaikkudi-Chennai Pallavan Superfast. The reverse of this table is the coach position of 12605 Chennai-Karaikkudi Pallavan Superfast.

Loco	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23
	EOG	UR	C1	C2	C3	D1	D2	D3	D4	D5	D6	D7	PC	D8	D9	D10	D11	D12	D13	UR	UR	EOG

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 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 Madurai.

Station Stops

Chennai to Karaikudi (12605)

List of stops on the Pallavan Express from Chennai to Karaikudi (Train No(s) : 12605).[4]

Stop No	Station Code	Station	Arrival/Departure	Distance (km)
1	MS	Chennai Egmore	Starts 15:45	0
2	TBM	Tambaram	16:13/16:15	25
3	CGL	Chengalpattu Junction	16:43/16:45	56
4	MLMR	Melmaruvattur	17:08/17:10	91
5	VM	Villupuram Junction	18:00/18:15	158
6	VRI	Vridachalam Junction	18:45/18:47	213
7	ALU	Ariyalur	19:21/19:22	260
8	LLI	Lalgudi	19:49/19:50	309
9	SRGM	Srirangam	20:06/20:08	324
10	GOC	Ponmalai Golden Rock	20:19/20:20	333
11	TPJ	Tiruchirappalli Junction	20:40/20:45	336
12	PDKT	Pudukkottai	21:43/21:45	389
13	KKDI	Karaikudi Junction	22:35 Ends	425

Karaikudi to Chennai (12606)

List of stops on the Pallavan Express from Karaikudi to Chennai (Train No(s) : 12606).[5]

Stop No	Station Code	Station	Arrival/Departure	Distance (km)
1	KKDI	Karaikkudi Junction	Starts 05:35	0
2	PDKT	Pudukottai	05:58/06:00	36
3	TPJ	Tiruchchirappalli Junction	06:50/06:55	89
4	SRGM	Srirangam	07:15/07:17	101
5	LLI	Lalgudi	07:32/07:33	116
6	ALU	Ariyalur	08:05/08:06	159
7	VRI	Vridhachalam Junction	08:38/08:40	214
8	VM	Villupuram Junction	09:28/09:30	267
9	MLMR	Melmaruvattur	10:18/10:20	335
10	CGL	Chengalpattu Junction	10:48/10:50	370
11	TBM	Tambaram	11:18/11:20	401
12	MBM	Mambalam	11:38/11:40	419
13	MS	Chennai Egmore	12:15 Ends	426

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.[6]

See also

• Cholan Express
• Vaigai Express
• Rockfort Express
• Tambaram-Nagercoil Superfast Express
• Tiruchirappalli – Tirunelveli Intercity Express
• Mysore-Mayiladuthurai Express
• Tiruchirappalli-Mayiladuthurai Express.
• Vascodagama Express

Notes

References

External links

• Southern Railway

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