The 22651/22652 MGR Chennai Central - Palakkad Superfast Express is a daily express train between MGR Chennai Central (MAS) and Palakkad Junction railway station (PGT) by Southern Railways via Palani. This is the only train that connects Palani, Udumalaipettai & Pollachi with the state capital Chennai. The train covers a distance of 672 km (418 mi) at an average speed of 57 km/h (35 mph).
| MGR Chennai Central - Palakkad Jn Superfast Express | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 WAP-4 AJJ 22837 pulling this SF Express train | |||||
| Overview | |||||
| Service type | Superfast Express | ||||
| Locale | Tamil Nadu, Kerala | ||||
| First service | 1 October 2013 | ||||
| Current operator(s) | Southern Railways | ||||
| Route | |||||
| Termini | MGR Chennai Central (MAS) Palakkad Junction (PGT) | ||||
| Stops | 19[1] | ||||
| Distance travelled | 672 km (418 mi) | ||||
| Average journey time | 9 Hours 35 minutes | ||||
| Service frequency | Daily | ||||
| Train number(s) | 22651/22652 | ||||
| On-board services | |||||
| Class(es) | AC First, AC 2 Tier, AC 3 Tier, Sleeper Class, Second Sitting, General Unreserved. | ||||
| Sleeping arrangements | Yes | ||||
| Catering facilities | Yes | ||||
| Observation facilities | Large windows | ||||
| Entertainment facilities | Yes | ||||
| Technical | |||||
| Rolling stock | ICF coach pulled by WAP-4 from Electric Loco Shed, Arakkonam | ||||
| Track gauge | 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) | ||||
| Operating speed | 57 km/h (35 mph) average with halts[1] | ||||
| |||||
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History edit
In the beginning it ran between Chennai Central and Palani. Then it had been extended up to Pollachi Junction as a special train between Palani and Pollachi. In the 2017 it had been extended up to Palakkad Junction by serving two states Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
Route edit
The train operates from Chennai Central to Palakkad Junction via Tiruvallur, Arakkonam Jn, Katpadi, Jolarpettai, Morappur, Salem Jn, Rasipuram, Namakkal, Mohanur, Karur Jn, Dindigul Jn, Akkaraipatti, Oddanchatram, Chatrapatti, Palani, Udumalpet, Pollachi Jn and Palakkad Town.[1]
Timings edit
This train is a daily service train with the following departures and arrivals at some of these stations:-
| MGR Chennai Central ↔ Palakkad Junction (via Palani) | |||||
| 22651 | Station Name | Station Code | 22652 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arrival | Departure | Arrival | Departure | ||
| - | 21:40 | MGR Chennai Central | MAS | 04:05 | - |
| 22:43 | 22:45 | Arakkonam Junction | AJJ | 02:28 | 02:30 |
| 23:38 | 23:40 | Katpadi Junction | KPD | 01:38 | 01:40 |
| 00:53 | 00:55 | Jolarpettai Junction | JTJ | 00:28 | 00:30 |
| 02:35 | 02:40 | Salem Junction | SA | 22:35 | 22:40 |
| 04:23 | 04:25 | Karur Junction | KRR | 21:03 | 21:05 |
| 06:00 | 06:05 | Dindigul Junction | DG | 19:35 | 19:40 |
| 07:10 | 07:15 | Palani | PLNI | 18:00 | 18:05 |
| 08:27 | 08:30 | Pollachi Junction | POY | 16:52 | 16:55 |
| 10:00 | - | Palakkad Junction | PGT | - | 15:45 |
Coach composition edit
- 1 AC First Class
- 2 AC Two Tier
- 2 AC Three Tier
- 11 Sleeper coaches
- 1 Non-AC Sitting coach
- 2 General Unreserved
- 2 Second-class Luggage/parcel van
It runs with ICF-CBC coaches (Green indicating Electric locomotive and Yellow indicating colour of the coach)
| Loco | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
SLR | UR | S11 | S10 | S9 | S8 | S7 | S6 | S5 | S4 | S3 | S2 | S1 | B2 | B1 | A2 | A1 | H1 | D1 | UR | SLR |
==Locomotive== as the route is electrified. From PALAKKAD to Chennai Central, RPM WAP7 & WAP 4E OF ARAKKONAM hauls the train.[1][2]
Starting from September 24, 2022, this train will be converted from Electric-Diesel locomotive journey to a fully complete Electric locomotive journey since the Palani-Dindigul line got completely electrified and CRS Inspection was successfully completed.[3][4]
References edit
- ^ a b c d "India Rail Info". Retrieved 13 October 2013.
- ^ First Electric Run on DG PLNI Section | 22651 Chennai Palakkad Express |, retrieved 24 September 2022
- ^ Bureau, The Hindu (22 September 2022). "Railways to run trains via Pollachi, Dindigul from September 24". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
- ^ Syam, Megha. "5482116-0: Change In Traction...!! End To End Ele 22651/MGR Chennai Central - Palakkad Junction SF Express (Via Palani) - Railway Enquiry". indiarailinfo.com. Retrieved 25 September 2022.