Rockfort Superfast Express

Rockfort Superfast Express
	Rockfort Express arriving at Trichy
Overview
Service type	Superfast Express
Status	Active
Locale	Tamil Nadu
First service	1 August 1972; 49 years ago
Current operator(s)	Southern Railway zone
Route
Start	Tiruchchirappalli Junction (TPJ)
Stops	14
End	Chennai Egmore (MS)
Distance travelled	336 km (209 mi)
Average journey time	05:30 hours
Service frequency	Daily each way
Train number(s)	12653/12654 (Old numbers 177/178, 6177/6178, 6877/6878, 16177/16178)
Line(s) used	Chord line
On-board services
Class(es)	1A, 2A, 3A, SL, GS
Disabled access	Available
Seating arrangements	No
Sleeping arrangements	Couchette car
Catering facilities	No
Entertainment facilities	No
Baggage facilities	Overhead racks ; Baggage carriage
Technical
Rolling stock	RPM/WAP-7 , ED/WAP-4 , AJJ/WAP-4 ; 1 AC First Class ; 3 AC Two-tier; 5 AC Three-tier; 09 II SL; 3 UR/GS; 2 EOG
Track gauge	1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in)
Electrification	25 kV AC, 50 Hz
Operating speed	Average 61 kmphr ; Max Speed 110 kmph
Track owner(s)	Southern Railway zone
Timetable number(s)	21/21A
Route map
Route map

The Rockfort Superfast Express is a Superfast Express overnight Express rail connecting Tiruchirappalli with Chennai Egmore via Villupuram in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. This train serves as the main connectivity to the state capital,Chennai city and the town of Tiruchirappalli District along the route.

Background and Relevance[]

The eponymous train is named after the famous 12th-century fortress Rockfort temple in the heart of Tiruchirapalli. The train originally ran between Madras Egmore and Tiruchirappalli Junction on the 'Chord Line'. Later, when the 'Main Line' was closed for operations to facilitate gauge conversion projects, a part of this train was extended to Thanjavur Junction as Rockfort Link Express (6177A/ 6178A). It was further extended to Kumbakonam during the Mahamaham festival. The extended run was truncated effective September 2013. The entire formation now runs up to Tiruchirappalli Junction. Converted as Superfast Express from 08.06.2017 & Renumbered as (12653/12654).

This train originally had a signal-green livery, with a yellow stripe along the upper and lower part of windows. It later was changed to the standard VB Maroon-livery when it was run on the MG. On BG it ran with the Conventional ICF coaches and later it is converted to LHB rake.

Rakes[]

The Rockfort Superfast Express is one of the very few trains in the Indian Railways to have coaches of all the six classes of Indian Railway. It was running with 23 LHB coaches including an AC First Class, AC 2-Tier, First class, AC 3-tier, Sleeper Class and General Sitting compartments. First Class coaches were removed in May 2014, as per railway policy. New LHB (Linke Hofmann Busch) coaches has been allotted for this train. The train runs with LHB coaches from 26 September 2016, due to this the Composition of the train has been changed to accommodate Generator cars with 22 coaches. Later due to greater demand of Unreserved coaches additional GS was added and now running with 23 coaches, making it one of few LHB trains to run with 23 coaches. The train usually runs to full capacity.^[a]

Loco	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23
	EOG	GS	GS	S9	S8	S7	S6	S5	S4	S3	S2	S1	B5	B4	B3	B2	B1	A3	A2	A1	H1	GS	EOG

The Coaches have RSA with Pandian Superfast Express and Cholan Express

Schedule[]

The train numbered 12654 departs from Trichy Junction at 22:45 (10:45 PM IST) Hours and arrives Viluppuram Junction by 01:25 AM IST Hours and reaches Chennai Egmore at 04:15 AM IST Hours the next day.

The pairing train numbered 12653 starts at 23:15 (11:15 PM IST) Hours from Chennai Egmore and arrives Viluppuram Junction by 01:35 AM IST and reaches Trichy Junction at 04:45 hours the next day.^[b]

Maintenance[]

The Primary Maintenance of the coaches are managed at SSE/C&W/MDU, there is no Secondary maintenance required.

Notes[]

^ The coach composition is subject to change.
^ The timings are in Indian Standard Time.

References[]

^ "Old time table of SR - 1977". IR Southern Zone - Discussion. Retrieved 20 December 2013.
^ "Trains at a Glance July 2013 - June 2014". Indian Railways. Retrieved 19 December 2013.

External links[]

Official website

[3] The coach composition is subject to change.

[4] The timings are in Indian Standard Time.

[tt77-1] "Old time table of SR - 1977". IR Southern Zone - Discussion. Retrieved 20 December 2013.

[2] "Trains at a Glance July 2013 - June 2014". Indian Railways. Retrieved 19 December 2013.

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