157.44.131.202: /* Traction */

2021-06-25T07:57:21Z

Traction

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{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2016}} {{Use Indian English|date=January 2016}}
{{Infobox rail service
|name = Kollam Express
|image= File:Chennai Egome-Kollam Junction express at Kollam, Aug 2019.jpg
|image_width =
|caption = Chennai Egmore–Kollam Junction Express at {{stnlnk|Kollam Junction}}
|type = [[Express trains in India|Express]]
|status = Operating
|locale = [[Kerala]] & [[Tamil Nadu]]
|first = {{start date and age|df=yes|1904|11|26}}<br>Re-introduced on {{start date and age|df=yes|2019|3|4}}
|last =
|operator = [[Indian Railways]]
|ridership =
|start = {{stnlnk|Chennai Egmore}} (MS)
|stops = 21
|end = {{stnlnk|Kollam Junction}} (QLN)
|distance = {{convert|761|km|abbr=on}}
|trainnumber = 16101/16102
|journey time = 15 hours 45 minutes (Up & Down)
|frequency = Daily
|class = AC 3 tier, Sleeper 3 tier, General Unreserved
|seating = Yes
|sleeping = [[Couchette car]]s
|autorack =
|catering = No
|observation = Large windows
|entertainment =
|baggage =
|other facilities=
|stock = [[Indian locomotive class WDM-3A|WDM-3D or WDM-3A twins/WDG-3A]] in QLN⇋TPJ section
[[WAP-4]] or [[WAP-7]] in TPJ⇋MS section
|gauge = 5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm)<br>Indian broad gauge|Indiantrainnumberel =
|train number = 16101/16102
|map = [[File:Route map of Kollam Jn.-Chennai Egmore Express, Jul 2020.jpg|250px|Kollam Jn.-Chennai Egmore (Quilon Mail) Route map]]
|map_state =
}}
The '''Chennai Egmore–Kollam Junction Express''' (16101/16102, earlier known as the '''Quilon Mail''') is a daily train that runs between [[Chennai Egmore]] and {{stnlnk|Kollam Junction}} in India. It is the successor of 115 years old [[Quilon Mail]], which ran once upon a time in Meter Gauge lines between Madras and Quilon.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/royal-mail-back-on-track-as-new-line-connects-chennai-to-kollam-1473901-2019-03-09 |title=Royal Mail back on track as new line connects Chennai to Kollam |work=India Today|date=9 March 2019 |access-date=19 March 2019}}</ref>

== History ==
Opened on 1 June 1904, the [[Kollam–Sengottai branch line|Quilon–Madras rail line]] was the first line in [[Travancore]]. Its official gauge conversion started in 1998 and completed in 2018. On 31 March 2018, the entire Kollam–Sengottai line was opened for passenger train service.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2018/apr/01/sengottai-kollam-railway-line-reopens-after-eight-years-1795456.html |title=Sengottai–Kollam railway line reopens after eight years |newspaper=The New Indian Express|date=1 April 2018 |access-date=2 April 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/madurai/special-trains-announced-between-tambaram-and-kollam/articleshow/63538475.cms |title=Special trains announced between Tambaram and Kollam |newspaper=The Times of India|date=30 March 2018 |access-date=2 April 2018}}</ref> The first passenger train was the [[Tambaram]]–[[Kollam district|Kollam]]–[[Tambaram]] special train (06027) that earned Rs 3.15 lakh by carrying 879 passengers against a capacity of 712.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/first-train-from-chennai-on-punalur-line-has-commuters-ready-to-roll/articleshow/63564490.cms |title=First train from Chennai on Punalur line has commuters ready to roll |newspaper=The Times of India|date=1 April 2018 |access-date=2 April 2018}}</ref> The line provides a shorter route to [[Thiruvananthapuram]] via [[Kollam district|Kollam]]. Other routes include: [[Coimbatore]] and [[Pollachi]] to [[Palakkad]], from [[Madurai]] via [[Kanyakumari]].<ref>{{Cite journal|date=June 2007|title=BioTesting Europe officially announced by EBF|journal=Biometric Technology Today|volume=15|issue=6|pages=5|doi=10.1016/s0969-4765(08)70031-6|issn=0969-4765}}</ref>

On 4 March 2019, railway started daily service between Kollam Junction and Chennai Egmore by extending Tambaram–Kollam tri-weekly special train to Chennai Egmore and increased the frequency as a daily service. The service was speeded-up by 35 minutes and the number of intermediate stops were reduced to 21 from 25 (Tiruttangal, Pamba Kovil Shandy, Bhagavathipuram, Auvaneeswaram). The daily express train service between Chennai Egmore and Kollam Junction via {{stnlnk|Punalur}}, {{stnlnk|Rajapalayam}} and {{stnlnk|Madurai Junction}} was one of the oldest routes in [[South India]]. The service was first flagged off by Travancore Maharajah Mulam Thirunal Rama Varma in 1904 as ''Quilon–Madras Mail''. The service was diverted through Virudhunagar and Manamadurai in 1996 due to gauge conversion works in Virudhunagar–Madurai stretch. Later, the service discontinued in 2000 for gauge conversion works.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2019/mar/03/chennai-kollam-regular-train-to-resume-after-19-years-1945987.html |title=After 19 years, Chennai–Kollam regular train service to resume from Monday |newspaper=The New Indian Express|date=3 March 2019 |access-date=3 March 2019}}</ref>

== Route ==
It runs along the British-made historic [[Quilon]]–[[Madras]] rail route and other chord lines including [[Kollam–Sengottai branch line|Kollam–Sengottai]] which is the shortest existing rail route from [[Chennai]] to [[Kollam]] via [[Chengalpattu]], [[Dindigul]], [[Trichy]], [[Madurai]], [[Srivilliputtur]], [[Tenkasi]] and [[Punalur]].

'''[[Chennai Egmore]]'''→{{stnlnk|Tambaram}} →{{stnlnk|Chengalpattu Junction}} →[[Viluppuram Junction railway station|Villupuram Junction]] →{{stnlnk|Vriddhachalam Junction}} →[[Tiruchirappalli Junction railway station|Tiruchchirappalli Junction]] →{{stnlnk|Dindigul Junction}} →{{stnlnk|Madurai Junction}} →[[Virudhunagar Junction railway station|Virudunagar Junction]] →{{stnlnk|Srivilliputtur}} →{{stnlnk|Rajapalayam}} →[[Sankarankovil]] →[[Kadayanallur]] →{{stnlnk|Tenkasi Junction}} →{{stnlnk|Sengottai}} →{{stnlnk|Aryankavu}} →{{stnlnk|Thenmala}} →{{stnlnk|Edamann}} →{{stnlnk|Punalur}} →{{stnlnk|Avaneeswaram}} →{{stnlnk|Kottarakara}} →{{stnlnk|Kundara}} →'''{{stnlnk|Kollam Junction}}'''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2019/mar/03/chennai-kollam-regular-train-to-resume-after-19-years-1945987.html |title=After 19 years, Chennai–Kollam regular train service to resume from Monday |newspaper=The New Indian Express|date=3 March 2019 |access-date=3 March 2019}}</ref>

==Traction==
As the route is partly electrified, an [[Electric Loco Shed, Arakkonam|Arakkonam]]-based [[WAP-4]] or [[Electric Loco Shed, Royapuram|Royapuram]]-based [[WAP-7]] hauls the train till Dindigul Junction handing over to a [[Diesel Loco Shed, Golden Rock|GOC]]-based diesel [[WDG-3A]] which powers the train for the remainder of the journey.

== Coach composition ==
The train has 14 bogies comprising two A/C three-tier, eight sleeper class, two unreserved general coaches and 2 luggage rakes.{{efn|The coach composition is subject to change.}}

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders unsortable" style="text-align:center"
|-
!scope="col" rowspan="1" style="background:#007F0E;"| Loco
!scope="col" rowspan="1" style="background:yellow;"| 1
!scope="col" rowspan="1" style="background:orange;"| 2
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:crimson;" | 3
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:crimson;" | 4
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:crimson;" | 5
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:crimson;" | 6
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:crimson;" | 7
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:crimson;" | 8
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:crimson;" | 9
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:crimson;" | 10
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:#00FFFF;" | 11
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:#00FFFF;" | 12
!scope="col" rowspan="1" style="background:orange;"| 13
!scope="col" rowspan="1" style="background:yellow;"| 14

|-
||| SLR || GEN || S1 || S2 || S3 || S4 || S5 || S6 || S7 || S8 || B1 || B2 || GEN || SLR
|-
|}

== See also ==
* [[Anantapuri Express]]
* [[Palaruvi Express]]
* [[Silambu Express]]
* [[Pothigai Express]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== Sources ==
*https://indiarailinfo.com/train/96239
*https://indiarailinfo.com/train/96242

== External links ==
* [http://www.sr.indianrailways.gov.in/ Southern India Railways - Official Website]
* [http://www.sr.indianrailways.gov.in/view_detail.jsp?lang=0&id=0,4,268&dcd=4868&did=148429564639155766D893527DB4DF7D5FD14713C1A14.web91 Southern India Railway]
{{Kollam}}
{{Railways in Southern India}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chennai Egmore-Kollam Junction Express}}
[[Category:Express trains in India]]
[[Category:Rail transport in Kollam]]
[[Category:Rail transport in Kerala]]
[[Category:Rail transport in Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Railway services introduced in 2019]]

Chennai Egmore–Kollam Junction Express - Revision history

157.44.131.202: /* Traction */