West Coast Express (India)

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West Coast Superfast Express
Overview
Service typeExpress
LocaleTamil Nadu, Kerala & Karnataka
First service1 April 1965
Current operator(s)Southern Railways
Route
StartChennai Central (MAS)
Stops30
EndMangalore Central (MAQ)
Distance travelled902 km (560 mi)
Average journey time16 hrs 20 mins
Service frequencyDaily
Train number(s)22637 / 22638
On-board services
Class(es)Second AC, Third AC, Sleeper, General Unreserved
Seating arrangementsYes
Sleeping arrangementsYes
Catering facilitiesOn-board catering
E-catering
Observation facilitiesLarge windows
Technical
Rolling stockICF coaches
Track gauge1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in)
Operating speed55 km/h (34 mph) average including halts
Route map
West Coast Express (India) Route map.jpg

The 22637 / 22638 West Coast Superfast Express is a daily train connecting the city of Chennai, in Tamil Nadu, with the port city of Mangalore in Karnataka via Palakkad Junction.[1] It is one of the trains connecting the Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea and the oldest train. From August 1,2021 22637 Chennai Central - Mangalore Central West Coast Superfast Express runs with new timings.

The name traces to the location of Mangalore which is on the west coast of India. It is one of the oldest trains and also provides a day-time connectivity to Coimbatore from Chennai.

The train shares its rake with the Mangalore Mail which also traverses the same route.

In 2014 Ministry of Indian Railways Announced the Service Type of West Coast Express as Superfast The Schedule and Train Number also Changed from 16627/16628-> 22637/22638.

History[]

Introduced in 1965 as a Express train sharing rakes with Mangalore Mail. It was upgraded to Superfast Express train in June 2014.

Loco link and coach composition[]

When introduced, it ran with a WDM-2 from Erode Diesel Loco Shed for the whole journey. Later after 1990 when the route electrified till Erode, it used electric locomotive from Chennai to Erode and a diesel loco from Erode to Mangalore. After electrification till Mangalore was completed, it now uses WAP-4 / WAP-7 in its entire journey.

It has a total of 23 coaches excluding the locomotive. It has 1 HCPV or High Capacity Parcel Van, 2 Guard Vans (One at each end). 4 General Compartments (1 GS compartment illegally occupied by RMS), 11 Sleeper coaches, 4 AC Three Tier, 1 AC Two Tier. and an RMS. When it departs Mangalore Central as 22638 for the return journey to Chennai, the RMS or Rail Mail Service coach is put at the end of the train.

Station stops[]

Chennai to Mangalore[]

List of stops on the West Coast Express from Chennai to Mangalore.[2]

State Station Code Station Arrival/Departure Distance (km)
Tamil Nadu MAS Chennai Central Starts 13:15 0
AJJ Arakkonam 14:23/14.25 68
WJR Walajah Road Junction 14.53/14.55 104
KPD Katpadi Junction 15:25/15.30 129
JTJ Jolarpettai Junction 16:48/16:50 213
TPT Tiruppattur Junction 16:59/17:00 221
MAP 17:34/17:35 268
BQI Bommidi 17:54/17:55 291
SA Salem Junction 18:34/18:35 334
SGE 19:14/19.15 372
ED Erode Junction 19:44/19:45 393
TUP Tiruppur 20:28/20.30 444
CBE Coimbatore Junction 21:27/21:30 494
PDJ Podanur Junction 21:44/21:45 500
Kerala PGT Palakkad Junction 22:52/22:55 550
OTP Ottapalam 23:13/23:15 581
SRR Shoranur Junction 23:45:23:50 594
KTU Kuttippuram 00:17/00:18 624
TIR Tirur 00:32/00:33 639
PGI Parappanangadi 00:46/00:47 655
CLT Kozhikode 01:12/01:15 680
BDJ Vadakara 01:51/01:52 727
TLY Thalassery 02:14/02:15 749
CAN Kannur 02:37/02:40 769
PAY Payyannur 03:04/03:05 803
NLE Nileshwar railway station 03:24/03:25 823
KZE Kanhangad 03:34/03:35 832
KGQ Kasaragod railway station 03:54/03:55 855
Karnataka MAQ Mangalore Central 05:30 (Ends) 901

Mangalore to Chennai[]

List of stops on the West Coast Express from Mangalore to Chennai.[3]

State Station Code Station Arrival/Departure Distance (km)
Karnataka MAQ Mangalore Central Starts 23:45 0
Kerala KGQ Kasaragod railway station 00:23/00:25 45
KZE Kanhangad 00:43/00:45 69
NLE Nileshwar railway station 00:54/00:55 78
PAY Payyannur 01:11/01:12 98
CAN Kannur 01:42/01:45 131
TLY Thalassery 02:03/02:05 152
BDJ Vadakara 02:23/02:25 174
CLT Kozhikode 03:00/03:05 221
PGI Parappanangadi 03:29/03:30 246
TIR Tirur 03:43/03:45 262
KTU Kuttippuram 03:59/04:00 277
SRR Shoranur Junction 04:40/04:50 307
OTP Ottapalam 05:18/05:20 320
PGT Palakkad Junction 05:55/06:00 351
Tamil Nadu PTJ Podanur Junction 07:19/07:20 401
CBE Coimbatore Junction 07:32/07:35 407
TUP Tiruppur 08:18/08:20 457
ED Erode Junction 09.10/09:15 507
SGE 09:39/09:40 528
SA Salem Junction 10:17/10:20 567
BQI Bommidi 10:54/10:55 610
MAP 11:18/11:20 633
TPT Tiruppattur Junction 11:59/12:00 680
JTJ Jolarpettai Junction 12:15/12:17 688
KPD Katpadi Junction 13:25/13:27 772
WJR Walajah RoadRoad Junction 13:48/13:50 797
AJJ Arakkonam 14:18/14:20 833
PER Perambur 15:08/15:10 896
MAS Chennai Central 15:50 (ends) 901

References[]

  1. ^ "22638/West Coast SF Express (PT) - Mangalore to MGR Chennai SR/Southern Zone - Railway Enquiry".
  2. ^ http://enquiry.indianrail.gov.in/ntes/
  3. ^ http://enquiry.indianrail.gov.in/ntes/


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