Mangala Lakshadweep Express
The Mangala Lakshadweep (Malayalam: മംഗള ലക്ഷദ്വീപ് എക്സ്പ്രസ്സ്)is a daily running Superfast Express train of Southern Railway and runs between Hazrat Nizamuddin railway station in Delhi and Ernakulam Junction in Kochi, Kerala via the Konkan railway route. It is currently being operated with 12617 / 12618 train numbers. This was the second daily train connecting Kerala state and New Delhi after Kerala Express and provided the first daily direct access to the national capital for the Malabar(North Kerala) districts and Coastal Karnataka districts. This train currently holds the record of being the longest running daily superfast train in India(3066 km in 48 hrs: 45 minutes at a rate of 63km/hour). The next longest Superfast also is a train connecting Kerala state with the national capital, the Kerala Express running between Thiruvananthapuram Central and New Delhi which runs 3036 km daily in 50 hrs: 45 minutes at a rate of 60km/hour.
Contents
The train's name
As the Konkan Railway was not yet constructed, the train was earlier running between Mangalore and Delhi in a roundabout route. Since the train was running till Mangalore, the name Mangala was derived from Mangaladevi, the most important deity of Mangalore city. Once the Konkan route was completed, this train was diverted via the Konkan. Later, This train was extended to Ernakulam Junction. This train is hauled by WAP 4 of Erode shed from Ernakulam to Shoranur, WDP 4D of GOC (Golden rock) from Shoranur to Igatpuri and WAM 4/ WAP 4 of BSL shed from Igatpuri to Nizamuddin
Timings
This train at present[when?] leaves Ernakulam Junction at 10:45hrs to reach Hazrat Nizamuddin Railway Station at 13:10 on the 3rd day. Return this train leaves NZM at 9:20 AM to reach Ernakulam Junction at 10:00 AM on the 3rd day. It covers a distance of 3067 km in about 48 hours at an average of 64 km/h (40 mph).
Accidents
On February 22, 2013, 4 coaches of the 12618 Hazrat Nizamuddin-Ernakulam Mangala Lakshadweep Express derailed near Nashik, leavin 20 persons injured.[citation needed] On November 15, 2013, 10 coaches including all the AC coaches of the 12618 Hazrat Nizamuddin-Ernakulam Mangala Lakshadweep Express derailed near Nashik again at 06:40 a.m., leaving 5 persons dead and 50 injured.[citation needed] In both cases, track rupture is suggested as cause of the accident. On March 1,2015 3 coaches of 12617 ( S9 , S10 & Pantry car) Hazrat Nizamuddin-Ernakulam derailed near Pen , Raigad district with no casualties reported since the train was just outbound on the station and picking up speed. [1]
Important stations of the train (12617 / 12618)
- Hazrat Nizamuddin
- Faridabad
- Mathura
- Agra
- Gwalior
- Jhansi Junction
- Bina Junction
- Bhopal Junction
- Itarsi
- Khandwa
- Bhusawal
- Manmad
- Nasik Road
- Kalyan
- Panvel
- Ratnagiri
- Madgaon
- Karwar
- Bhatkal
- Kundapur
- Udupi
- Mangalore Junction (formerly Kankanadi)
- Kasaragod
- Kanhangad
- Nileshwar
- Payyannur
- Kannur
- Thalassery
- Vadakara
- Kozhikode
- Tirur
- Shoranur
- Thrissur
- Ernakulam Junction