Howrah–Chennai Mail

Howrah–Chennai Mail

Howrah bound Chennai Mail at Anakapalle in Andhra Pradesh
Overview
Service type	Mail
Locale	West Bengal, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu
First service	15 August 1900 (1900-08-15)
Current operator(s)	South Eastern Railway zone
Route
Start	Howrah Junction
End	Chennai Central
Distance travelled	1,664 km (1,034 mi)
Average journey time	27 hours Approximately
Service frequency	daily
On-board services
Class(es)	AC First, AC 2 Tier, AC 3 Tier, Sleeper Class, General Unreserved
Seating arrangements	Yes
Sleeping arrangements	Yes
Catering facilities	Yes
Observation facilities	Large Windows
Baggage facilities	Yes
Technical
Rolling stock	Standard ICF coaches
Track gauge	1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in)
Operating speed	59 km/h (37 mph)
Route map

Howrah Junction–Chennai Central Mail is a Mail train of Indian Railways connecting Howrah Junction and Chennai Central. It connects three metropolitan cities of India, Kolkata, Chennai and Visakhapatnam. It also runs via some major cities of India like Bhubaneswar, Vijayawada etc.,

History

The train made its inaugural run on 15 August 1900, which makes it one of the oldest running trains on Indian Railways. It was first hauled by steam engines, including the WP class engines, then by diesel, and now by electric WAP-4 locomotives. It was the first passenger train to be dieselised on South Eastern Railway, in 1964/65. Till the introduction of the Coromandel Express in the mid seventies, it was the main and fastest train link between Howrah and Chennai (then Madras) with much fewer halts. Presently, this train is the second most important train on the Howrah–Chennai main line after the high speed Coromandel Express. It covers 1,664 km (1,034 mi) at an average speed of 59 km/h (37 mph)

Rakes

• 1 AC First Cum AC Two Tier
• 2 AC Two Tier
• 3 AC Three Tier
• 12 Sleeper class
• 1 Pantry car
• 3 General Unreserved
• 2 Luggage cum Brake Vans (SLR)

Loco	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24
	SLR	UR	S1	S2	S3	S4	S5	S6	S7	S8	S9	S10	S11	PC	S12	B1	B2	B3	A1	A2	HA1	UR	UR	SLR

Route

Important stations through which it passes are Kharagpur Junction, Balasore, Cuttack Junction, Bhubaneswar, Khurda Road Junction, Berhampur, Naupada, Visakhapatnam, Samalkot Junction, Rajahmundry, Eluru, Vijayawada Junction, Tenali Junction, Nellore} Gudur Junction.