Ganga Kaveri Express

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Ganga Kaveri Express
Ganga Kaveri Express (Chennai - Chhapra) Route map.png
Ganga Kaveri Express Route Map
Overview
Service type Superfast
Locale Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar
Current operator(s) Southern Railway
Route
Start Chennai Central
End Chhapra
Distance travelled 2,338 km (1,453 mi)
Average journey time 42 hrs
Service frequency Bi-weekly
Train number(s) 12669/ 12670
On-board services
Class(es) AC 2 Tier, AC 3 Tier, Sleeper Class, Unreserved
Seating arrangements No
Sleeping arrangements Yes
Catering facilities Yes
Technical
Operating speed 55 Km/hr (Avarage)

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.

Etmology

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converted from one-night to two-nights train, slowed down by more than 3 hours, Green and Yellow colored Rakes withdrawn and AC sleeper service introduced.[4] Later, in 90's Jaffer Sharief introduced the train which is running currently as Ganga Kaveri Express [5][6][7] for the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 depends on Diesel Locomotive to haul till Chhapra. The following are the major junctions enroute: Vijayawada, Warangal, Balharshah, Nagpur, Itarsi Junction, Jabalpur, Katni, Satna, Allahabad, Varanasi.

Coach Composition

The train has 3 AC 3-Tier, 3 AC 2-Tier, 12 Second class Sleepers, 2 Second class, 2 Luggage cum Passenger Car and a Pantry Car (Total 23 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
BSicon LDER.svg SLR GS S12 S11 S10 S9 S8 S7 S6 S5 S4 S3 PC S2 S1 B3 B2 B1 A3 A2 A1 GS SLR

See also

References

  1. [1], India Rail Info,11 April 2015.
  2. [2], India Rail Info,11 April 2015.
  3. [3], [IRFCA.com],11 April 2015.
  4. [4], [IRFCA.com],11 April 2015.
  5. [5], [indiarailinfo.com],11 April 2015.
  6. [6], [indiarailinfo.com],11 April 2015.
  7. [7], [www.indiamike.com],11 April 2015.
  8. [8], [whereincity.com],11 April 2015.
  9. [9], [whereincity.com],11 April 2015.
  10. [10], Allahabad Nagar Nigam,11 April 2015.
  11. [11], [india9.com],11 April 2015.
  12. [12], Hindustan Times,11 April 2015.

External links