Gurudev Express
The 12659 / 60 Gurudev Express is a Superfast express train belonging to the Indian Railways southern zone that runs between Nagercoil Junction and Shalimar in India.[1]
_Gurudev_Express.jpg) | |||||
| Overview | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service type | Superfast | ||||
| First service | 1 July 2001 | ||||
| Current operator(s) | Southern Railways | ||||
| Route | |||||
| Start | Nagercoil Junction | ||||
| Stops | 42 | ||||
| End | Shalimar | ||||
| Distance travelled | 2,579 km (1,603 mi) | ||||
| Service frequency | Ones in a week for every direction | ||||
| Train number(s) | 12659 / 12660 | ||||
| On-board services | |||||
| Class(es) | AC 2 tier, AC 3 tier, sleeper class, general unreserved | ||||
| Seating arrangements | Yes | ||||
| Sleeping arrangements | Yes | ||||
| Catering facilities | Yes | ||||
| Technical | |||||
| Rolling stock | Standard Indian Railways Coaches | ||||
| Track gauge | 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) | ||||
| Operating speed | 55.5 km/h (34 mph) | ||||
| |||||
_Route_map.jpg)
It operates as train number 12659 from Nagercoil Junction to Shalimar and as train number 12660 in the reverse direction serving the states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and West Bengal.
Background
The Gurudev Express is a joint tribute to Rabindranath Tagore and southern saint Sree Narayana Guru.
Coaches
The 12659 / 60 Gurudev Express has one AC 2-tier, two AC 3-tier, 13 sleeper class, three general unreserved & two SLR (seating with luggage rake) coaches and two high capacity parcel van coaches. It does not carry a pantry car coach.[2]
As is customary with most train services in India, coach composition may be amended at the discretion of Indian Railways depending on demand.[3]
Service
The 12659 Nagercoil Junction - Shalimar Gurudev Express covers the distance of 2,579 km (1,603 mi) in 47 hours 10 mins (55 km/hr) & in 46 hours 05 mins as the 12660 Shalimar - Nagercoil Junction (56 km/hr).
As the average speed of the train is slightly above 55 km/h (34 mph), as per railway rules, its fare includes a Superfast surcharge.[4]
Schedule
| Train Number | Station Code | Departure Station | Departure Time | Departure Day | Arrival Station | Arrival Time | Arrival Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12660 | SHM | Shalimar (Kolkata) | 11:05 PM | Wednesday | Nagercoil Jn | 9:55 PM | Friday |
| 12659 | NCJ | Nagercoil Jn | 2:45 PM | Sunday | Shalimar (Kolkata) | 1:50 PM | Tuesday |
Routing
The 12659 / 60 runs from Nagercoil Junction via Ernakulam Town, Kottayam,Palakkad Junction, Coimbatore Junction, Tirupati, Vijayawada Junction, Eluru, Visakhapatnam, Bhubaneswar, Kharagpur Junction to Shalimar.[5]
Reverse
Train reverse in Visakhapatnam railway station
Traction
As the route is fully electrified, an Erode or Royapuram based WAP-4 locomotive powers the train up to Visakhapatnam. Later, an Howrah Junction based WAP-4 locomotive takes the reversed direction and pulls the train to its destination.
Rake Composition
- 1 AC II Tier
- 2 AC III Tier
- 12 Sleeper Coaches
- 3 General
- 2 moter Cum Parcel van
- 2 General can luggage
| Loco | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | VP | GRD | VP | GEN | S1 | S2 | S3 | S4 | S5 | S6 | S7 | S8 | S9 | S10 | S11 | S12 | B1 | B2 | A1 | GEN | GEN | GRD |
References
- untitled; South Central Railway; 13 October 2014
- , thehindu.com, 5 July 2017
- Sleeper Coaches Added to Trains; 24 August 2016; thehindu.com; retrieved July 2017
- no title given; 24 August 2016; Southern Railways website
- Gurudev Express Derails; 12 June 2007; thehindu.com; retrieved July 2017
External Links
- 12659 Gurudev Express at India Rail Info
- 12660 Gurudev Express at India Rail Info