Pothigai Superfast Express
Overview | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Status | Operating | ||||
Locale | Tamil Nadu | ||||
Current operator(s) | Southern Railway zone | ||||
Route | |||||
Start | Sengottai (SCT) | ||||
End | Chennai Egmore (MS) | ||||
Service frequency | Daily | ||||
Train number(s) | 12661/12662 | ||||
On-board services | |||||
Class(es) | 2A, 3A, SL, SLR, SLRD and UR/GS | ||||
Disabled access | |||||
Seating arrangements | Corridor coach (UR/GS only) | ||||
Sleeping arrangements | Couchette car | ||||
Auto-rack arrangements | No | ||||
Catering facilities | No | ||||
Entertainment facilities | Yes | ||||
Technical | |||||
Track owner(s) | Southern Railway zone | ||||
Rake maintenance | Tirunelveli Junction | ||||
Rake sharing | Nellai Superfast Express | ||||
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The Pothigai Superfast Express is an overnight Superfast train service operated between Chennai Egmore and Sengottai via Villupuram, Trichy, Madurai and Rajapalayam on the Southern Railway zone of the Indian Railways.[1][2][3]
Train 12661 starts daily at 8:40PM departing Chennai Egmore for Sengottai, and train number 12662 in the opposite direction.[4]
History[]
The name of the train commemorates the Pothigai Hills, also known as Agasthiyar Mountain, which is a 1,866-metre (6,122 ft)-tall peak in the southern part of the Western Ghats of South India. The western slope is located in the Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala state, the eastern slope of Pothigai hills is in the Tirunelveli district, southern slope is located in the Kanyakumari district of Tamil Nadu. At 1,866 meters, it is the highest peak in the rugged Ashambu hills, which have one of the richest concentrations of biodiversity in the Western Ghats.[3] The area is known for its extensive views, forests, waterfalls, ancient temples, and the river Tamirabarani, the lifeline of the region. So, the train was named "Pothigai Express" to remember the Pothigai hills. It is a standard train consisting of commercial coaches. The main towns on the way are Chengalpattu, Villupuram, Tiruchirapalli, Madurai, Virudhunagar, Sivakasi, Srivilliputhur, Rajapalayam, sankarankovil and Tenkasi. The train covers a distance of 667km. the service started on 20 September 2004.
Route[]
Prominent stoppages Chennai Egmore, Tambaram, Chengalpattu Jn, Villupuram Jn, Vriddhachalam Jn, Tiruchchirappalli Jn, Dindigul Jn, Madurai Jn, Virudhunagar Junction, Tiruttangal, Sivakasi, Srivilliputhur, Rajapalayam, Sankarankovil, Pamba Kovil Shandy, Kadayanallur, Tenkasi Jn, Sengottai.
Coach Composition[]
The train has 23 bogies comprising one A/C second-tier, six A/C three-tier, eleven sleeper class, 3 unreserved general coaches and 2 luggage rakes.[a]
Loco | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 14 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SLR | GEN | S1 | S2 | S3 | S4 | S5 | S6 | S7 | S8 | S9 | S10 | S11 | B1 | B2 | B3 | B4 | B5 | B5 | GEN | GEN | SLR |
- 1 AC II Tier
- 6 AC III Tier
- 11 Sleeper
- 3 Unreserved
- 2 EOG cars.
Its top speed is 110 km/h.[citation needed] . It is running with brand new LHB Coaches since 4 September 2018.
See also[]
- Vaigai Express
- Pandian Express
- Chennai Madurai AC Duronto Express
- Sethu Express
- Boatmail Express
- Rockfort Express
- Pallavan Express
- Nellai Superfast Express
- Silambu Express
- Tiruchirappalli–Thiruvananthapuram Intercity Express
Notes[]
- ^ The coach composition is subject to change.
References[]
- ^ "EXTENDED TO SENGOTTAI". Southern Railway press release No.186. 2008. Archived from the original on 11 February 2008. Retrieved 4 April 2009.
- ^ Staff reporter (6 May 2007). "Pothigai Express to run 6 days a week". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 8 May 2007. Retrieved 4 April 2009.
- ^ Special correspondent (6 February 2008). "Pothigai Express extended to Senkottai". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 9 February 2008. Retrieved 4 April 2009.
- ^ "Timings of Podhigai, Nellai Express trains to change". The Hindu online edition.
External links[]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Pothigai Express. |
- Transport in Chennai
- Named passenger trains of India
- Rail transport in Tamil Nadu
- Express trains in India
- Indian express train stubs