Ganga Kaveri Express

Ganga Kaveri Express
Ganga Kaveri Express Name board
Overview
Service type Superfast
Locale Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana State, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar
First service 1 January 1984
Current operator(s) Southern Railway
Route
Start Chennai Central
End Chhapra
Distance travelled 2,341 km (1,455 mi)
Average journey time 42 hrs
Service frequency Bi-weekly
Train number(s) 12669/ 12670
On-board services
Class(es) 1 AC-1, 3 AC 2 Tier, 3 AC 3 Tier, 12 Sleeper Class, 2 Unreserved, 1 Pantry Car.
Seating arrangements Yes
Sleeping arrangements Yes
Catering facilities Yes
Technical
Operating speed 55 Km/hr (Average)
Route map

Ganga Kaveri Express is a Bi-weekly Superfast train service operated by Indian Railways, connecting Chennai in Southern India to Chhapra in Bihar.[1][2] Inaugurated on 16 February 1977 by Kamalpati Tripathi,[3] between Madras (now Chennai) and Varanasi, was terminating at Chennai Beach Station, from where MG Ganga Kaveri Express used to run to Rameswaram through the Kaveri river basin.

Etymology

It is named after two Indian Rivers; Ganga (which flows in the holy city of Varanasi, also Chhapra) and Kaveri river (a River which flows in the Southern states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu).

History

The Superfast service of Train Number 139/140 started its service to Varanasi from Madras Beach station, from the opposite Platform where an MG Ganga Kaveri Express used to run to Rameswaram since Chennai Beach - Chennai Egmore - Rameswaram line was still in Metre Gauge. Later the superfast status was erased, made to terminate at Madras Central (now Chennai Central instead of Madras Beach (now Chennai Beach) as an Express and connection with Madras - Rameswaram Exp removed and name changed from Ganga Kaveri Exp to Madras - Varanasi Express. Thus increased halts at Katni, Pipariya, Betul and Sirpur Kaghaznagar, converted from one-night to two-nights train, slowed down by more than 3 hours, Green and Yellow colored Rakes withdrawn and AC sleeper service introduced.[4] Later, in 90's Jaffer Sharief introduced the train which is running currently as Ganga Kaveri Express[5][6][7] for the benefit of South Indian tourists, willing to travel to holy city of Varanasi.[8][9][10] This train was extended to Chhapra in December 2006 despite a stiff opposition from the Local South Indians in Varanasi, who alleged that quota may be reduced for Varanasi bound passengers.[11][12]

Route

This train enjoys Electric Traction till Itarsi, from where it hauls on WDP4D Diesel Locomotive till Chhapra. The following are the major junctions en route: Thiruvottiyur,Ongole, Vijayawada, khammam,Warangal, Ramagundam, Balharshah, Nagpur, Itarsi Junction, Jabalpur, Katni, Satna, Allahabad, Varanasi.

Coach composition

The train has 1 AC 1st Cum AC Two Tier, 3 AC 2-Tier, 3 AC 3-Tier, 12 Second class Sleepers, 2 Second class, 2 Luggage cum Passenger Car and a Pantry Car (Total 24 coaches)

Loco 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24
SLRGSHA1A1A2A3B1B2B3S12S11S10S9S8S7S6S5S4S3PCS2S1GSSLR

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 26 September 2008. Retrieved 2008-09-26. , India Rail Info,11 April 2015.
  2. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 27 September 2008. Retrieved 2008-09-27. , India Rail Info,11 April 2015.
  3. ↑ , [IRFCA.com],11 April 2015.
  4. ↑ , [IRFCA.com],11 April 2015.
  5. ↑ , [indiarailinfo.com],11 April 2015.
  6. ↑ , [indiarailinfo.com],11 April 2015.
  7. ↑ , [www.indiamike.com],11 April 2015.
  8. ↑ , [whereincity.com],11 April 2015.
  9. ↑ , [whereincity.com],11 April 2015.
  10. ↑ , Allahabad Nagar Nigam,11 April 2015.
  11. ↑ , [india9.com],11 April 2015.
  12. ↑ , Hindustan Times,11 April 2015.

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