Kerala Express

The 12625 / 12626 Kerala Superfast Express is a daily superfast express train of the Indian Railways that runs between New Delhi and Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala state. It is currently the longest-running daily Superfast train of Indian Railways (3027 km) and second-longest daily train in country after Avadh Assam Express (3115 km).^[3] It is the second direct train to Kerala (1977) from the national capital Delhi after Jayanti Janata Express (1973) and first direct train connecting the state capital and Southern Kerala with New Delhi.

Kerala Superfast Express

Kerala Express near Warangal
Overview
Service type	Superfast
First service	1977; 46 years ago (1977) (split train as Kerala–Karnataka (KK) Express )^[1] 1983; 40 years ago (1983) (as separate train, Kerala Express)^[2]
Current operator(s)	Southern Railways
Route
Termini	New Delhi (NDLS) Thiruvananthapuram Central (TVC)
Stops	41
Distance travelled	3,031 km (1,883 mi)
Average journey time	50 hours 30 minutes
Service frequency	Daily
Train number(s)	12625 / 12626
On-board services
Class(es)	AC 2 tier, AC 3 tier, Sleeper class, Unreserved/General
Seating arrangements	Yes
Sleeping arrangements	Yes
Catering facilities	Available
Observation facilities	Large windows
Technical
Rolling stock	LHB coach
Track gauge	1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in)
Operating speed	130 km/h (81 mph) maximum, 61 km/h (38 mph) average including halts
Rake maintenance	Kochuveli
Route map

History

The Kerala Express was introduced in 1977 as a split train named Kerala–Karnataka (KK) Express.^[4] The composition of Karnataka–Kerala Express has been increased from 14 coaches to 21 coaches with effect from 29 January 1981.^[5]

The train is running with LHB rakes with effect from 4 November 2018.^[6]

On 10 June 2019, during the 2019 Indian heat wave, four pilgrims from Tamil Nadu died due to heat exposure in the Kerala Express as it traveled south through the Bundelkhand, before the train arrived at Jhansi Junction.^[7][8]

 

Kerala Express – LHB coach – End on Generator coach

 

Kerala Express – LHB coach – AC 2 tier

 

Kerala Express – LHB coach – AC 3 tier

 

Kerala Express – LHB coach – Sleeper class

Route & Halts

• Thiruvananthapuram Central
• Kollam Junction
• Kayamkulam Junction
• Chengannur
• Kottayam
• Ernakulam Town
• Thrissur
• Palakkad Junction
• Coimbatore Main
• Erode
• Jolarpettai Junction
• Katpadi Junction
• Renigunta
• Gudur
• Vijayawada
• Warangal
• Ramagundam
• Balharshah
• Nagpur Junction
• Itarsi Junction
• Bhopal Junction
• Jhansi Junction
• Agra Cantonment
• Mathura
• Hazrat Nizamuddin
• New Delhi

Traction

It is hauled by a Royapuram / Erode based WAP 7 locomotive from end to end.^{[citation needed]}

See also

• Ernakulam Town
• Karnataka Express
• Kerala Sampark Kranti Express
• Mangala Lakshadweep Express
• Trivandrum Central

References

1. "Railway Budget speech 1977-78 (interim)" (PDF). www.indianrailways.gov.in. Ministry of Railways. 28 March 1977.
2. "Railway Budget speech 1983-84" (PDF). www.indianrailways.gov.in. Ministry of Railways. 24 March 1983.
3. Longest trains, List of (2013). "Statistical Summary Indian Railways" (PDF). www.indianrailways.gov.in/.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
4. Interim, Railway Budget (28 March 1977). "Interim Railway Budget Madhu Dandavate" (PDF). www.indianrailways.gov.in.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
5. "Railway Budget speech 1981-82" (PDF). www.indianrailways.gov.in. Ministry of Railways. 19 February 1981.
6. "Kerala misses out on promised trains, backup coaches as authorities turn a blind eye". OnManorama. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
7. "Four pilgrims from Tamil Nadu die in train near Jhansi". The Hindu. Special Correspondent. 11 June 2019. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 13 June 2019.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
8. "Heatwave claims 4 on Kerala Express". Mumbai Mirror. 12 June 2019. Retrieved 28 April 2021.