https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Vanchinad_ExpressVanchinad Express - Revision history2026-10-23T04:42:19ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.43.6https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=Vanchinad_Express&diff=150850&oldid=previmported>Vatsmaxed: /* top */clean up, replaced: Indian Railway → Indian Railways2021-07-26T03:04:02Z<p><span class="autocomment">top: </span>clean up, replaced: <a href="/w/index.php?title=Indian_Railway&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Indian Railway (page does not exist)">Indian Railway</a> → <a href="/wiki/Indian_Railways" title="Indian Railways">Indian Railways</a></p>
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{{Infobox rail service<br />
| name = Vanchinad Express<br />
| image= <br />
| image_width =<br />
| caption =<br />
| type =<br />
| locale =<br />
| first = {{start date and age|1985}}<br />
| last =<br />
| operator = [[Indian Railways]]<br />
| ridership =<br />
| start = {{rws|Ernakulam Junction}}<br />
| stops = 17<br />
| end = {{rws|Thiruvananthapuram Central}}<br />
| distance = {{convert|220|km|abbr=on}}<br />
| journeytime = 4 hours 45 minutes<br />
| frequency = Daily<br />
| class = AC chair car, second sitting<br />
| seating = Yes<br />
| sleeping =<br />
| autorack =<br />
| catering =<br />
| observation = Large windows<br />
| entertainment =<br />
| baggage =<br />
| otherfacilities=<br />
| stock = ICF Rake<br />
| gauge = {{track gauge|1676mm}}<br />
| el =<br />
| trainnumber = 16303 / 16304<br />
| speed =<br />
| map = [[File:Vanchinad Express (Ernakulam - Trivandrum) route map.png|290px|Vanchinad Express (Ernakulam – Trivandrum) route map]]<br />
| map_state = <br />
}}<br />
'''Vanchinad Express''' is an intercity express train running between [[Thiruvananthapuram]] and [[Ernakulam]] in the state of [[Kerala]], [[India]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sr.indianrailways.gov.in |title=Southern Railway – Gateway of South India }}{{full citation needed|date=June 2016}}</ref> It is operated by the [[Thiruvananthapuram railway division|Thiruvananthapuram division]] of the [[Southern Railway zone|Southern Railway]] zone of the [[Indian Railways]].<br />
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==Etymology==<br />
Vanchinad was one of the names of the old princely state of Travancore, which actually had the shape of a ship. The train runs along most of what was once Travancore, and hence the train has been given this name.<br />
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==History and relevance==<br />
The train was introduced in 1985 between [[Thiruvananthapuram Central]] and [[Ernakulam Junction]]. During initial period the train had only 2 stops at [[Kottayam]] and [[Kollam]] railway stations and was one of the fastest trains running in Kerala. At that time ''Vanchinad Express'' started from Ernakulam Jn at 0600 and arrived [[Trivandrum Central]] at 0950 am. On the return run, it started at 1710 from [[Trivandrum Central]] and arrived [[Ernakulam Junction]] at 2100. The train was given a lot of additional stoppages starting in the mid 1990s due to political pressure from MLAs and MPs which resulted in increased running time of the train and revised schedule. Today, ''Vanchinad Express'' has 17 stops between [[Trivandrum Central]] and [[Ernakulam Junction]].<br />
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==Coach composition==<br />
When the train was introduced in 1985 the train had one first class compartment and the rest were second class compartments. Later an additional first class coach was added. Today the first class coaches have been removed and replaced with one AC chair car. Pantry car facility was also available in earlier times which was also withdrawn later. Today the train has 19 or 20 coaches depending on the availability of coaches with one reserved AC chair car and one reserved Second Sitting coach, for which tickets can be reserved in advance. Other second sitting coaches can be boarded with unreserved tickets issued from the counter.<br />
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==Major halts==<br />
[[Varkala Sivagiri railway station|Varkala]] → [[Paravur railway station|Paravur]] → [[Kollam Junction railway station|Kollam Junction]] → [[Sasthamkotta railway station|Sasthamkotta]] → [[Karunagappally railway station|Karunagappally]] → [[Kayamkulam Junction railway station|Kayamkulam Junction]] → [[Mavelikara railway station|Mavelikara]] → [[Chengannur railway station|Chengannur]] → [[Tiruvalla railway station|Tiruvalla]] → [[Changanasseri railway station|Changanasseri]] → [[Kottayam railway station|Kottayam]] → [[Tripunithura railway station|Tripunithura]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://indiarailinfo.com/train/-train-vanchinad-express-16303/1719/52/59 |title=16303/Vanchinad Express - Indiarailinfo |access-date=31 May 2017}}</ref><br />
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==See also==<br />
*[[Famous trains]]<br />
*[[Kerala Express]]<br />
*[[Venad Express]]<br />
*[[Guruvayur Express]]<br />
*[[Kerala Sampark Kranti Express]]<br />
*[[Maveli Express]]<br />
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==References==<br />
{{reflist}}<br />
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{{Railways in Southern India}}<br />
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Vanchinad Express}}<br />
[[Category:Transport in Kochi]]<br />
[[Category:Transport in Thiruvananthapuram]]<br />
[[Category:Named passenger trains of India]]<br />
[[Category:Rail transport in Kerala]]<br />
[[Category:Railway services introduced in 1985]]<br />
[[Category:Express trains in India]]</div>imported>Vatsmaxed