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2021-08-25T13:05:36Z

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{{Short description|Superfast express running between Thiruvananthapuram and Chennai}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2016}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2016}}
{{Infobox rail service
| name = Chennai Central–Thiruvananthapuram Central Superfast Mail
| image=
| image_width =
| caption =
| type =[[Inter-city rail]]
| locale =[[Tamil Nadu]] and [[Kerala]]
| first ='''{{start date and age|df=yes|1944}}''' (initial run from [[Puratchi Thalaivar Dr. M.G. Ramachandran Central railway station]] to [[Cochin Harbour Terminus]])<br>'''{{start date and age|df=yes|1977}}''' (extended to {{stnlnk|Thiruvananthapuram Central}})<ref name="history"/>
| last =
| operator = [[Southern Railway zone]]
| ridership =
| start = [[Puratchi Thalaivar Dr. M.G. Ramachandran Central railway station]]
| stops = 21 for 12624 and 20 for 12623
| end = [[Thiruvananthapuram Central]]
| distance = {{convert|926|km|abbr=on}}
| frequency = Daily
| class = First AC, 2 Tier AC ,3 Tier AC,Sleeper class,General
| seating = Yes
| sleeping = [[LHB coaches]]
| autorack = No
| catering = Yes
| observation = Large windows
| entertainment =No
| baggage =
| otherfacilities=
| gauge = {{track gauge|1676mm}}
| el =[[25 kV AC]] [[50 Hz]]
| trainnumber = 12623 / 12624
| engine = [[WAP7]]
| speed = Average {{convert|86|km/h}}, Maximum {{convert|110|km/h}}
| map = [[File:(Chennai - Trivandrum) Mail Express route.png|300px|(Chennai–Trivandrum) Mail Express route map]]
| map_state =
}}

'''Puratchi Thalaivar Dr. M.G. Ramachandran Central railway station–Thiruvananthapuram Central Mail''' is a daily [[Superfast Express trains in India|Superfast Express]] running between [[Thiruvananthapuram Central|Thiruvananthapuram]] and [[Chennai Central|Chennai]] under [[Southern Railway zone]] is one of the prestigious train of the [[Indian Railways]]. This train runs via [[Kottayam]]. This train connects Chennai and Thiruvananthapuram along with six big cities in South India – [[Salem, Tamil Nadu|Salem]], [[Erode]], [[Coimbatore]], [[Thrissur]], [[Kochi]] and [[Kollam]].

==History==
Today's 12623/24 Chennai–Thiruvananthapuram Mail, is the successor to the 561/562 [[Cochin Harbour Terminus]] (in Kochi) –Madras Express that started running in 1944. It was then the second express train running through Kerala and the first from south Kerala. In 1960, it was renumbered as the 19/20 Cochin Harbour Terminus–Madras Express and in 1965 renamed the 19/20 Cochin Harbour Terminus–Madras Mail. It was then extended to [[Thiruvananthapuram Central]] in 1977 when the rail link connecting to Thiruvananthapuram Central via [[Kottayam]] was completed and in 1990 it was renumbered 6319/6320 and later 2623/2624.<ref name="history">{{cite web| url=https://24coaches.com/bangalore-island-express-history/| title=The Legend of the Island Express| website=24 coaches| date=September 16, 2013}}</ref>

==Interesting Facts==

It is the only daily train from Chennai to the South which does not have a halt at both Arakkonam Junction and Jolarpettai.
The train was made to run via Irugur Podanur line due to single line constrains at Coimbatore Junction, later it was restored via Coimbatore Junction in 2014. This is the second-fastest train as 12623 between MAS and CBE, next to Fastest 22207 (MAS TVC Super AC Express).

Conventional ICF coaches of the train were replaced by LHB coaches during January 2017. The train usually leaves from PF no: 5 of Chennai Central till 2018. Later when the maintenance got shifted to SA Division / CBE Base, the train is now leaving from PF 9 of Chennai Central. The train shares its rake with Cheran Superfast Express. This train is one among the prestigious trains of the [[Southern Railway zone]].

Total number of coaches 23

The train consists of:
* Loco HOG-enabled WAP-7 from Royapuram or Erode
* 1 AC First/Second AC Coach (HA1)
* 1 AC Two-tier coaches(A1)
* 5 AC Three-tier coaches (B1, B2, B3, B4, B5)
* 11 Sleeper coaches (S1–S11)
* 3 Unreserved General Sitting coaches (GS)
* 2 end on generators

==Coach composition (Upward – 12623)==
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders unsortable" style="text-align:center"
|-
!scope="col" rowspan="1" style="background:lightskyblue;"| Loco
!scope="col" rowspan="1" style="background:lightskyblue;"| 1
!scope="col" rowspan="1" style="background:lightskyblue;"| 2
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:lightskyblue;" | 3
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:lightskyblue;" | 4
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:lightskyblue;" | 5
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:lightskyblue;" | 6
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:lightskyblue;" | 7
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:lightskyblue;" | 8
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:lightskyblue;" | 9
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:lightskyblue;" | 10
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:lightskyblue;" | 11
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:lightskyblue;" | 12
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:lightskyblue;" | 13
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:lightskyblue;" | 14
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:lightskyblue;" | 15
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:lightskyblue;" | 16
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:lightskyblue;" | 17
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:lightskyblue;" | 18
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:lightskyblue;" | 19
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:lightskyblue;" | 20
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:lightskyblue;" | 21
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:lightskyblue;" | 22
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:lightskyblue;" | 23
|-
|[[File:Wam-2. SVG.svg|100px]]|| EOG|| GS || S11 || S10 || S9 || S8 || S7 || S6 || S5 || S4 || S3 || S2 || S1|| B5 || B4 || B3 || B2 || B1 || A1 || HA1 || GS || GS || EOG
|-
|}

==Traction==

*Earlier hauled by [[Electric Loco Shed, Arakkonam|Arakkonam]] [[WAM-4]] till {{stnlnk|Erode Junction}} and then change to diesel ALCO towards Thiruvananthapuram Central, later it was provided with [[WAP-4]] till {{stnlnk|Ernakulam Town}} thereafter completed its journey to Thiruvananthapuram Central with twin diesel ALCO.
*After the electric traction till Thiruvananthapuram Central, the same was hauled by [[WAP-4]]
*It is now hauled by a [[WAP-7]] of [[Electric Loco Shed, Royapuram|Royapuram shed]] or [[Electric Loco Shed, Erode|Erode shed]].

==In popular culture==
''[[No.20 Madras Mail]]'', which is a Malayalam movie released in 1990 has most of the scenes shot inside the moving Thiruvananthapuram Mail train.

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Railways in Southern India}}
{{Historical trains in India|state=autocollapse}}

[[Category:Named passenger trains of India]]
[[Category:Rail transport in Kerala]]
[[Category:1940 establishments in India]]
[[Category:Transport in Chennai]]
[[Category:Transport in Thiruvananthapuram]]
[[Category:Rail transport in Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Mail trains in India|Thiruvananthapuram]]

Thiruvananthapuram Mail - Revision history

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