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{{short description|Train in India}}
{{distinguish|Mail boat}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2018}}
{{copy edit|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox rail service
| color = ffba01
| name = '''Boat Mail Express'''
| image = BOATMAIL RAMESWARAM EXPRESS.jpg
| caption = Boat Mail Express at Chennai Egmore Railway Station Platform No. 9
| image_width = 300px
| type = [[Mail/Express]]
| locale = [[Tamil Nadu]]
| status = Active
| predecessor = Indo-Ceylon Express
| first = {{Start date and age|df=yes|1914|02|24}}
| last = Operation till now
| successor = Rameswaram Express
| operator = [[Southern Railway zone]]
| formeroperator = South Indian Railway (SIR)
| ridership = [[Express trains in India|Mail/express]]
| website = http://www.indianrailways.gov.in
| start = {{stnlnk|Chennai Egmore}} '''(MS)'''
| stops = 20
| end = {{stnlnk|Rameswaram}} '''(RMM)'''
| distance = {{convert|665|km|abbr=on}}
| journeytime = 12 hours 30min
| frequency = Daily
| line_used = Main Line
| class = * 1 1st A/C I tire (H)
* 1 2nd A/C II tire (A)
* 3 3rd A/C III tire (B)
* 13 sleeper (SL)
* 3 unreserved (GS)
* 2 GSLRD
| access = {{Access icon|20px}}
| seating = Yes (un-reserved compartment)
| sleeping = Yes (berth)
| autorack =
| catering = E-catering
* 16751: (Chennai Egmore ➡ Villupuram Junction)
* 16752: (MANDAPAM ➡ Tiruchchirappalli Junction)
| observation = Large windows
| entertainment = No
| baggage = Available
| otherfacilities = Bio toilet
| stock = [[ICF coach]]
| gauge = {{track gauge|1676mm}}
| el = [[25 kV AC]], [[Utility frequency|50 Hz]] (high voltage traction)
| trainnumber = 16751/16752
| speed = {{convert|59|km/h|abbr=on}}
| trainlength = 23 Coaches
| owners = Southern Railway
| sharing = [[Sethu Superfast Express]] & [[Amritha Express]]
| maintenance = {{stnlnk|Ramanathapuram}}
| map = [[File:Boatmail Express (Chennai - Rameswaram) Route map.jpg|230px]]
| map_state =
}}

The '''Rameswaram (Boat Mail) Express''', formerly known as the '''Boat Mail''' or '''Indo-Ceylon Express''', is an express train connecting [[Rameswaram]] with the [[Tamil Nadu]] state capital Chennai via [[Tambaram railway station|Tambaram]], [[Chengalpattu Junction railway station|Chengalpettu]], [[Melmaruvathur]], [[Viluppuram Junction railway station|Viluppuram]], [[Cuddalore Port Junction railway station|Cuddalore Port]], [[Chidambaram railway station|Chidambaram]], [[Sirkazhi railway station|Sirkazhi]], [[Mayiladuthurai Junction railway station|Mayiladuthurai]], [[Thanjavur Junction railway station|Thanjavur]], [[Tiruchchirappalli Junction railway station|Tiruchchirappalli]], [[Pudukkottai railway station|Pudukkottai]], [[Karaikudi Junction railway station|Karaikudi]], [[Sivaganga railway station|Sivagangai]], [[Manamadurai Junction railway station|Manamadurai]], [[Paramakudi|Paramakkudi]] and [[Ramanathapuram railway station|Ramanathapuram]].

In the 20th century, it operated as a combined [[Transport in India|train]]-[[steamship|steamer]] [[ferry]]-[[Sri Lanka Transport Board|train]] service between India and [[Sri Lanka]], linking [[Chennai]] and [[Colombo]], the capital of Sri Lanka. Initially, the service utilized a rail-to-sea operation, which later evolved into a rail-sea-rail operation.<ref name="Famous Trains">http://www.irfca.org/faq/faq-seltrain.html Famous Trains</ref> Passengers could purchase a single ticket for the entire journey from Chennai to Colombo.<ref name="H1" /> After Indian independence, the ferry service was discontinued and the train operated under the name '''Dhanushkodi Express''' from [[Chennai Egmore]] to [[Dhanushkodi]]. Following the destruction of Dhanushkodi in the [[1964 Rameswaram cyclone|cyclone of 1964]], the train service on [[Rameswaram]]-Dhanushkodi section was halted and it now runs only from Chennai Egmore up to Rameswaram.

==History==
[[File:BoatMail Exp.JPG|thumb|250px|left|Passengers changing their mode of journey at {{stnlnk|Dhanushkodi}}]]
The train's name commemorates the 19th-century mail service between Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka (then Ceylon). It is one of the top prestigious trains of Indian Railways, as it completed 100 years of service in 2014.<ref name=H1>{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Tiruchirapalli/lsquoBoat-Mail-to-run-on-main-line-from-August-1/article16242735.ece|title='Boat Mail' to run on the main line from August 1|first=Syed Muthahar|last=Saqaf|date=14 June 2010|work=[[The Hindu]]|access-date=30 November 2022|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> Before the cyclone, the train was running as a metre-gauge train from {{stnlnk|Chennai Egmore}} to {{stnlnk|Dhanushkodi}} via {{stnlnk|Chengalpattu Junction}}, {{stnlnk|Viluppuram Junction}}, [[Cuddalore Port Junction railway station|Cuddalore Port Junction]], {{stnlnk|Chidambaram}}, {{stnlnk|Mayiladuthurai Junction}}, {{stnlnk|Kumbakonam}}, {{stnlnk|Thanjavur Junction}}, [[Pudukkottai railway station|Pudukkottai]], {{stnlnk|Karaikkudi Junction}},
[[Devakottai]], [[Sivaganga railway station|Sivagangai]], {{stnlnk|Manamadurai Junction}}, {{stnlnk|Ramanathapuram}} and [[Rameswaram]]. Due to the conversion of metre gauge to broad gauge, the train was stopped. After the completion of the broad-gauge track in the Chennai–Madurai–Rameswaram line, the train is resumed via {{stnlnk|Madurai Junction}}. Later the conversion of the Tiruchirappalli–Manamadurai line, this train is rerouted via that route which skips Madurai. Finally, the Mayiladuthurai to Thanjavur line is converted to broad gauge once again this train is rerouted via Thanjavur which is the present route of Boat Mail Express.<ref name=H1/>

===Tuticorin–Colombo era===
The train was inaugurated on January 1, 1880. The railway portion of the route within India was from Madras ([[Chennai]]) to [[Tuticorin]]. At Tuticorin, passengers embarked on the boat mail steamer to [[Colombo]] in Ceylon. The train took 21 hours and 50 minutes for the journey from Madras to Tuticorin. The Boat Mail was one of the early trains to be given [[Gangway connection|vestibuled]] carriages, in 1898.<ref name="Famous Trains"/> Presently this train route is running as [[Pearl City (Muthunagar) Super Fast Express|Pearl City Express]].

===Dhanushkodi–Talaimannar era===
In 1914, after the [[Pamban Bridge|Pamban bridge]] was built, the train's route changed and it went from Madras to [[Dhanushkodi]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Imperial Indian Mail|url=http://www.trains-worldexpresses.com/400/410.htm|publisher=trains-worldexpresses.com|access-date=30 November 2022}}</ref> A much shorter ferry service then took the passengers to [[Talaimannar]] in Ceylon, from where another train went to Colombo. The {{convert|35|km|mi|adj=on}} long ferry journey was considerably shorter than the {{convert|270|km|mi|adj=on}} long Tuticorin-Colombo route. Since the 1930s, this train has been rerouted from its original route via [[Madurai Junction railway station|Madurai Junction]] to its present-day route due to the opening of the Trichinopoly - Manamadurai railway route which is shorter distance in comparison with its original route which leads to reduction in overall travel time.

===Post cyclone===
In 1964, a passenger train was washed into the sea by huge waves during the [[1964 Rameswaram cyclone|1964 cyclone]], while it was near Dhanushkodi. The railway tracks and the pier at Dhanushkodi were also destroyed. Following this, the Indian portion of the train service now only operates up to [[Rameswaram]],<ref name="H1"/> while the ferry service to [[Talaimannar]] has restarted from Rameswaram, the train service was discontinued from 1984 due to [[Tamil Eelam]] issue.<ref>{{cite news|title=India-Sri Lanka ferry service to take off soon: Union minister|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2020/feb/27/india-sri-lanka-ferry-service-to-take-off-soon-union-minister-2109389.html|date=27 February 2020|access-date=30 November 2022|work=[[The New Indian Express]]}}</ref> It now runs between {{stnlnk|Chennai Egmore}} and {{stnlnk|Rameswaram}} via {{stnlnk|Tambaram}}, {{stnlnk|Chengalpattu Junction}}, {{stnlnk|Viluppuram Junction}}, {{stnlnk|Cuddalore Port Junction}} , {{stnlnk|Chidambaram}}, {{stnlnk|Mayiladuthurai Junction}}, {{stnlnk|Kumbakonam}}, {{stnlnk|Thanjavur Junction}}, {{stnlnk|Tiruchirappalli Junction}}, {{stnlnk|Pudukkottai}}, {{stnlnk|Karaikkudi Junction}}, Devakottai Road, [[Kallal]], {{stnlnk|Sivaganga}}, {{stnlnk|Manamadurai Junction}}, and {{stnlnk|Ramanathapuram}} in the Indian end, where it runs as Colombo - Thalaimannar '''Night Mail express''' at the Sri Lankan end.

==Schedule==
[[File:Boat Mail Express Large Name Board ( office lens ).jpg|200px|thumb|right|Train name board]]

* 16751 – Starts from Chennai Egmore daily at 19:15 IST and reaches Rameswaram the next day at 08:10 AM IST
* 16752 – Leaves Rameswaram every day at 17:25 IST and reaches Chennai Egmore the next morning 07:25 AM IST

{| class="wikitable sortable" width="65%" style="text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" align="center" style="background:#e8a317;" |16751 - Chennai Egmore → Rameswaram ~ Rameswaram (Boat Mail) Express
|-
!Station/junction name
!Station code
!Arrival
!Departure
!Day
|-
|[[Chennai Egmore railway station|Chennai Egmore]]
| MS
|Source
|19:15
|1
|-
|[[Tambaram railway station|Tambaram]]
|TBM
|19:43
|19:45
|1
|-
|[[Chengalpattu Junction railway station|Chengalpattu Junction]]
|CGL
|20:13
|20:15
|1
|-
|[[Melmaruvathur railway station|Melmaruvathur]]
|MLMR
|20:38
|20:40
|1
|-
|[[Viluppuram Junction railway station|Villupuram Junction]]
|VM
|21:50
|21:55
|1
|-
|[[Cuddalore Port Junction railway station|Cuddalore Port Junction]]
|CUPJ
|22:38
|22:40
|1
|-
|[[Chidambaram railway station|Chidambaram]]
|CDM
|23:08
|23:10
|1
|-
|[[Sirkazhi railway station|Sirkazhi]]
|SY
|23:26
|23:27
|1
|-
|[[Mayiladuthurai Junction railway station|Mayiladuthurai Junction]]
|MV
|23:55
|23:57
|1
|-
|[[Kumbakonam railway station|Kumbakonam]]
|KMU
|00:25
|00:27
|2
|-
|[[Thanjavur Junction railway station|Thanjavur Junction]]
|TJ
|01:00
|01:02
|2
|-
|[[Tiruchchirappalli Junction railway station|Tiruchchirappalli Junction]]
|TPJ
|02:50
|03:00
|2
|-
|[[Pudukkottai railway station|Pudukottai]]
|PDKT
|03:43
|03:45
|2
|-
|[[Karaikkudi Junction railway station|Karaikkudi Junction]]
|KKDI
|04:10
|04:12
|2
|-
|[[Devakottai Road railway station|Devakottai Road]]
|DKO
|04:19
|04:20
|2
|-
|[[Sivaganga railway station|Sivaganga]]
|SVGA
|04:39
|04:30
|2
|-
|[[Manamadurai Junction railway station|Manamadurai Junction]]
|MNM
|05:35
|05:40
|2
|-
|[[Paramakkudi railway station|Paramakkudi]]
|PMK
|06:03
|06:05
|2
|-
|[[Ramanathapuram railway station|Ramanathapuram]]
|RMD
|06:30
|06:32
|2
|-
|[[Mandapam railway station|Mandapam]]
|MMM
|07:08
|07:09
|2
|-
|[[Pamban railway station|Pamban]]
|PBM
|07:22
|07:23
|2
|-
|[[Rameswaram railway station|Rameswaram]]
|RMM
|08:20
| DEST
|2
|-
! colspan="5" align="center" style="background:#e8a317;" |16752 - Rameswaram → Chennai Egmore ~ Rameswaram (Boat Mail) Express
|-
|[[Rameswaram railway station|Rameswaram]]
|RMM
|SOURCE
|17:25
|1
|-
|[[Pamban railway station|Pamban]]
|RMD
|17:41
|17:42
|1
|-
|[[Mandapam railway station|Mandapam]]
|MMM
|17:53
|17:55
|1
|-
|[[Ramanathapuram railway station|Ramanathapuram]]
|RMD
|18:18
|18:20
|1
|-
|[[Paramakudi railway station|Paramakkudi]]
|PMK
|18:43
|18:45
|1
|-
|[[Manamadurai Junction railway station|Manamadurai Junction]]
|MNM
|19:20
|19:25
|1
|-
|[[Sivaganga railway station|Sivaganga]]
|SVGA
|19:38
|19:40
|1
|-
|[[Kallal railway station|Kallal]]
|KAL
|19:54
|19:55
|1
|-
|[[Devakottai Road railway station|Devakottai Road]]
|DKO
|20:03
|20:04
|1
|-
|[[Karaikkudi Junction railway station|Karaikkudi Junction]]
|KKDI
|20:38
|20:40
|1
|-
|[[Pudukkottai railway station|Pudukottai]]
|PDKT
|21:09
|21:10
|1
|-
|[[Tiruchchirappalli Junction railway station|Tiruchchirappalli Junction]]
|TPJ
|23:00
|23:10
|1
|-
|[[Thanjavur Junction railway station|Thanjavur Junction]]
|TJ
|00:00
|00:02
|1
|-
|[[Kumbakonam railway station|Kumbakonam]]
|KMU
|00:34
|00:36
|2
|-
|[[Mayiladuthurai Junction railway station|Mayiladuthurai Junction]]
|MV
|01:13
|01:15
|2
|-
| [[Sirkazhi railway station|Sirkazhi]]
|SY
|01:37
|01:35
|2
|-
|[[Chidambaram railway station|Chidambaram]]
|CDM
|01:54
|01:56
|2
|-
|[[Cuddalore Port Junction railway station|Cuddalore Port Junction]]
|CUPJ
|02:25
|02:26
|2
|-
|[[Villupuram Junction railway station|Villupuram Junction]]
|VM
|04:20
|04:25
|2
|-
|[[Melmaruvathur railway station|Melmaruvathur]]
|MLMR
|05:13
|05:15
|2
|-
|[[Chengalpattu Junction railway station|Chengalpattu Junction]]
|CGL
|05:48
|05:50
|2
|-
|[[Tambaram railway station|Tambaram]]
|TBM
|06:18
|06:20
|2
|-
|[[Mambalam railway station|Mambalam]]
|MBM
|06:38
|06:40
|2
|-
|[[Chennai Egmore railway station|Chennai Egmore]]
|MS
|07:25
|DEST
|2
|}

== Traction ==

earlier was Golden Rock-based [[WDG-3A]]. From Rameswaram to Chennai Egmore the train is hauled by a [[Indian locomotive class WAP-4|WAP-4]] electric loco. The same locomotive types are used on the return journey. This train achieves a maximum speed of 110 km/h.<ref>{{cite web| website=India Rail Info| url=http://indiarailinfo.com/train/2119| title=16701/Chennai Egmore–Rameswaram (Boat Mail) Express}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| website=India Rail Info| url=http://indiarailinfo.com/train/2120| title=16702⇒16102/Boat Mail (Rameswaram Express)}}</ref>

== Coach composition ==
The train consists of 23 coaches.It shares its rakes with the Sethu Superfast Express, operates daily and covers a distance of {{convert|667|km|0|abbr=on}}.

It includes one AC first class cum 2nd AC (HA), AC 2 tier (A), AC 3 tier (B), sleeper class (SL), unreserved general sitting coach (GS), and end on generators (SLRD). The Train Will Shares Its Rake With Madurai Thiruvananthapuram Amritha Express After Extension And Inauguration Of New Pamban Bridge.

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders unsortable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:#12ad2b;" | Loco
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:#804a00;" | 1
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:#ffd801;" | 2
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:#ffd801;" | 3
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:#ff00ff;" | 4
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:#ff00ff;" | 5
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:#ff00ff;" | 6
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:#ff00ff;" | 7
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:#ff00ff;" | 8
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:#ff00ff;" | 9
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:#ff00ff;" | 10
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:#ff00ff;" | 11
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:#ff00ff;" | 12
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:#ff00ff;" | 13
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:#ff00ff;" | 14
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:#ff00ff;" | 15
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:#ff00ff" | 16
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:#00bfff" | 17
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:#00bfff" | 18
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:#00bfff;" | 19
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:#0909ff;" | 20
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:#ff007f;" | 21
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:#ffd801;" | 22
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:#804a00;" | 23
|-
|'''[[File:BSicon LDER.svg|25px]]'''
||SLR||GS||GS||S1||S2||S3||S4||S5||S6||S7||S8||S9||S10||S11||S12||S13||B3||B2||B1||A1||HA1||GS||SLR
|}

==Alternative proposals==
At one time the [[South Indian Railway Company|South Indian Railway]] considered constructing a bridge {{convert|12|mi|km}} long across the shallow waters and sand shoals and reefs known as [[Adam's Bridge|Ram Setu]] between [[India]] and [[Sri Lanka]]. However, this plan was shelved when [[World War I]] broke out.

==Locomotive==

* Rameswaram (Boat Mail) Express Running Chennai to Rameswaram with [[WAP-4]] locomotive from [[Erode]], [[Arakkonam]] electric shed or Golden Rock-based [[WDG-3A]]

== See also ==

* [[Cross-border railway lines in India]]
* [[Alavandar murder case]], incidence in Boat Mail Express
* [[List of named passenger trains of Sri Lanka]]
* [[Rail transport in India]]
** Passenger trains in Tamil Nadu
*** [[Ananthapuri Express]]
*** [[Chennai Egmore-Nagercoil Weekly Superfast Express]]
*** [[Nellai Superfast Express]]
*** [[Pallavan Superfast Express]]
*** [[Vaigai Superfast Express]]
*** [[Rockfort (Malaikottai) Superfast Express]]
*** [[Chendur Superfast Express]]
*** [[Pearl City (Muthunagar) Superfast Express]]
*** [[Pandian Superfast Express]]
*** [[Kanniyakumari Superfast Express]]
*** [[Pothigai Superfast Express]]
*** [[Uzhavan Express]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}
{{Railways in Southern India}}
{{Rail transport in Sri Lanka}}
{{International trains from India}}

[[Category:History of transport in Sri Lanka]]
[[Category:Ferry transport in Sri Lanka]]
[[Category:Defunct trains in India]]
[[Category:Ferry transport in India]]
[[Category:Named passenger trains of Sri Lanka]]
[[Category:Named passenger trains of India]]
[[Category:Transport in Chennai]]
[[Category:Transport in Rameswaram]]
[[Category:Rail transport in Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Railway services introduced in 1914]]
[[Category:Express trains in India]]

Boat Mail Express - Revision history

YvetteSawtell2: started info