Gurupratap Rajan: creating initial article and citations

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creating initial article and citations

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{{Short description|Train in India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2016}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2016}}
{{Infobox rail service
| color = D24E01
| name = Mangaluru – Chennai Superfast Mail
| image = Chennai Mangaluru SF Mail.jpg
| image_width = 300px
| caption = MAS - MAQ '''Superfast Mail''' Train board
| type = [[Express trains in India|Express]]/[[Mail]]
| locale = [[Tamil Nadu]], [[Kerala]] and [[Karnataka]]
| first = {{start date and age|1867|07|1|df=yes}}
| last =
| operator = [[Indian Railways]]
| ridership =
| start = [[Chennai Central]]
| stops = 31
| end = [[Mangaluru Central]]
| distance = {{convert|901|km|abbr=on}}
| journeytime = 16 Hrs 20 minutes
| frequency = Daily
| class = Second AC, Third AC, Sleeper Class, General Unreserved, First Ac
| seating = Yes
| sleeping = Yes
| autorack = Yes
| catering = On Board
| observation = Large windows
| entertainment = No
| baggage = Under Seat & RMS
| otherfacilities = -
| stock = Wap 4/ Wap 7 & LHB Dedicated Rake
| gauge = {{track gauge|1676mm}}
| el = 100%
| trainnumber = 12601 / 12602
| speed = {{convert|55|km/h|abbr=on}} average with halts, 120 km/h (75 mph) maximum
| map = [[File:West Coast Express (India) Route map.jpg|300px]]
| map_state =
}}

The 12601 / 12602 '''Mangaluru Central–MGR Chennai Central Mail''' is a [[Express trains in India|Superfast Mail]] daily train operated by the [[Indian Railways]] belonging to [[Southern Railway zone]] that runs between [[Chennai Central railway station|Chennai Central]] (Madras) of [[Tamil Nadu]] and [[Mangaluru Central]] of [[Karnataka]] in [[India]]. It is one of the oldest train still being operated by [[Indian Railways]]. Earlier it ran from Madras [[Royapuram]] to [[Kozhikode]] (Calicut). When the line was extended up to Mangaluru, it ran up to [[Mangaluru Central]] from [[Royapuram]] Chennai. When Madras Central was built, the train's terminus was changed to [[Chennai Central]] from Royapuram and it ran as the Madras Central - [[Mangaluru Central]] Malabar Express. Till 1907, it ran as Malabar Express, after that its name was changed to Chennai/Mangaluru Mail. It was one of the prestigious train in [[Indian Railways]]. It runs always full by having more stoppages in northern [[Kerala]] beginning from [[Palakkad Junction]] to [[Kasaragod]]. It also has nine stoppages at [[Tamilnadu]] and it does not have any other stoppages in [[Karnataka]] except [[Mangaluru Central]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kumar |first=Vinay |title=4987589-15: Pic 3: Bypore Mail: 1863-64 Through as G - Railway Enquiry |url=https://indiarailinfo.com/blog/post/4987589/15 |access-date=2026-01-28 |website=indiarailinfo.com}}</ref>

==History==
Originally, It was introduced as Mangalore - Madras Malabar Express on July 1, 1867, which had train number 1/2 and as Mangalore/Chennai Mail from 1887. It was one single Composite Train called as “01UP/02DOWN Mail” from Madras to Old Coimbatore (Now Podanur) and from there to Chaliyam (now Beypore in Calicut). Its inaugural run was on July 1st 1867. It did not have a name until 1887. The train was split into the Nilgiri Express in 1864 and the Malabar Mail in 1867. The Kerala Mainline was further extended to Kumbla (near Mangaluru) which was completed on July 3rd 1907. Because of this the Malabar Mail was renamed into the Mangalore Mail and <ref>{{Cite web | title=Chaliyam Archives - Ajaysekher.net | url=https://ajaysekher.net/tag/chaliyam/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220819164237/https://ajaysekher.net/tag/chaliyam/ | access-date=2025-06-28 | archive-date=2022-08-19}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web| title=Nilgiris | url=https://sr.indianrailways.gov.in/cris//uploads/files/1624367745307-1233.pdf | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210814104551/https://sr.indianrailways.gov.in/cris//uploads/files/1624367745307-1233.pdf | archive-date=2021-08-14}}</ref> The present day Malabar Express was introduced as an altogether new train from Mangalore to Cochin Harbour Terminus in 1963. Later when the metre gauge from Ernakulam to Kollam was converted to broad gauge, this train was extended to Thiruvananthapuram in 1976 bearing numbers 16629/30 now.
At present Chennai-Mangalore central mail runs with train numbers 12601/12602.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://indiarailinfo.com/blog/post/4987589/14#4987589-14|title = 4987589-14: Portion in Attachment: 1. Sep 16 1865: G - Railway Enquiry}}</ref>
It was the first-ever train to enter Kerala with electric locomotive.

== Routes and halts ==
The Important Halts of the train are :

● [[Chennai Central railway station|MGR Chennai Central]]

● [[Tiruvallur railway station|Tiruvallur]]

● [[Arakkonam Junction railway station|Arakkonam Junction]]

● [[Walajah Road railway station|Walajah Road]]

● [[Katpadi Junction railway station|Katpadi Junction]]

● [[Jolarpettai Junction railway station|Jolarpettai Junction]]

● [[Salem Junction railway station|Salem Junction]]

● [[Erode Junction railway station|Erode Junction]]

● [[Tiruppur railway station|Tiruppur]]

● [[Podanur Junction railway station|Podanur Junction]]

● [[Ottapalam railway station|Ottappalam]]

● [[Shoranur Junction railway station|Shoranur Junction]]

● [[Pattambi]]

● [[Kuttippuram railway station|Kuttipuram]]

● [[Tirur railway station|Tirur]]

● [[Tanur railway station|Tanur]]

● [[Parappanangadi railway station|Parappanangadi]]

● [[Ferok railway station|Ferok]]

● [[Kozhikode railway station|Kozhikode]]

● [[Quirindi railway station|Quilandi]]

● [[Vadakara railway station|Vadakara]]

● [[Mahe railway station|Mahe]]

● [[Thalassery railway station|Thalassery]]

● [[Kannur railway station|Kannur]]

● [[Pazhayangadi railway station|Pazhayangadi]]

● [[Payyanur railway station|Payyanur]]

● [[Gregory Charvat|Charvattur]]

● [[Kanhangad railway station|Kanhangad]]

● [[Kasaragod railway station|Kasaragod]]

● '''[[Mangalore Central railway station|Mangaluru Central]]'''

== Rake sharing ==
The train shares its rake with the [[West Coast Express (India)|West Coast Express]].

==Locomotive link==
earlier first run was [[WDM-2]]. As the route is fully electrified now it is hauled by a [[WAP-7]] or [[WAP-4]] locomotive from [[Royapuram]].

==Kadalundi River Train Disaster==
the [[Mangaluru-Chennai Mail]] accident involved in [[Kadalundi train derailment]] when the Mangalore-Chennai Mail passenger train was crossing over the Kadalundi river. Three carriages fell into the water, with 59 people reported killed or missing, and up to 300 believed injured. The official inquiry concluded that the derailment was caused by one pillar of the 140-year old bridge sinking into the riverbed, following recent heavy rain, though this finding has been challenged.

==References==

{{reflist}}

{{Express trains running through Kerala}}
{{Railways in Southern India}}
{{Historical trains in India}}

[[Category:Named passenger trains of India]]
[[Category:Rail transport in Karnataka]]
[[Category:Rail transport in Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Mail trains in India]]

{{India-passenger-train-stub}}

Mangaluru–Chennai Mail - Revision history

Gurupratap Rajan: creating initial article and citations