Thiruvananthapuram - Kasaragod Vande Bharat Express
The 20634/20633 Thiruvananthapuram - Kasaragod Vande Bharat Express is India's 15th Vande Bharat Express train, connecting Kasaragod with state capital Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala.[1][2] The train service was officially inaugurated on 25 April 2023 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Thiruvananthapuram Central at 11:11 hrs.[3]
Thiruvananthapuram - Kasaragod Vande Bharat Express | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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![]() Vande Bharat Express train running from Kasaragod Station to Thiruvananthapuram Central | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Overview | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Service type | Vande Bharat Express | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Locale | Kerala | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
First service | 25 April 2023 (Inaugural run) 26 April 2023 (Commercial run) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Current operator(s) | Southern Railways (SR) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Route | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Termini | Thiruvananthapuram Central (TVC) Kasaragod (KGQ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stops | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Distance travelled | 586 km (364 mi) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Average journey time | 08hrs 05mins | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Service frequency | Six days a week [lower-alpha 1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Train number(s) | 20633 / 20634 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Line(s) used | Kollam–Thiruvananthapuram trunk line Ernakulam–Kottayam–Kayamkulam line Shoranur–Cochin Harbour section Shoranur–Mangalore section | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
On-board services | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class(es) | AC Chair Car, AC Executive Chair Car | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Seating arrangements |
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Sleeping arrangements | No | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Catering facilities | On-board catering | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Observation facilities | Large windows in all coaches | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Entertainment facilities |
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Baggage facilities | Overhead racks | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other facilities | Kavach | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Technical | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rolling stock | Vande Bharat 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Track gauge | Indian gauge 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) broad gauge | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Electrification | 25 kV 50 Hz AC Overhead line | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Operating speed | 110 km/h (68 mph) (maximum) 73 km/h (45 mph) (Avg.) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Average length | 384 metres (1,260 ft) (16 coaches) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Track owner(s) | Indian Railways | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rake maintenance | Kochuveli, Thiruvananthapuram | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Overview
This train is operated by Indian Railways, connecting Thiruvananthapuram Central, Kollam Jn, Kottayam, Ernakulam Town, Thrissur, Shoranur Jn, Kozhikode, Kannur and Kasaragod. This is the first Vande Bharat Express train for Kerala [4] and the third Vande Bharat Express train for Southern Railways.[5] It is operated with train numbers 20633/20634 on 6 days a week basis.[6][7]
Rakes
It is the thirteenth 2nd Generation Vande Bharat Express train which has been designed and manufactured by the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) under the leadership of Sudhanshu Mani at Perambur, Chennai under the Make in India initiative.
Coach composition
The 20634/20633 Thiruvananthapuram - Kasaragod Vande Bharat Express has 14 AC Chair Car and 2 Executive Chair Cars coaches. The coaches in Aqua color indicate AC Chair Cars and the coaches in Pink color indicate AC Executive Chair Cars.
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | |
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20634 | ![]() |
C2 | C3 | C4 | C5 | C6 | C7 | E1 | E2 | C8 | C9 | C10 | C11 | C12 | C13 | C14 | ![]() |
20633 | ![]() |
C13 | C12 | C11 | C10 | C9 | C8 | E2 | E1 | C7 | C6 | C5 | C4 | C3 | C2 | C1 | ![]() |
Service
The 20634/20633 Thiruvananthapuram - Kasaragod Vande Bharat Express operates 6 days a week, covering a distance of 586 km (364 mi) in a travel time of 08hrs 05mins with average speed of 73km/hr. [8] The train can go as fast as 180 km per hour. However, this speed is not possible in Kerala in the current situation. Currently, the maximum speed between Thiruvananthapuram and Kayamkulam(Alappuzha) will be 100 kmph. It can only travel at a speed of 90 kmph from Kayamkulam to Ernakulam whereas the speed will be 80 kmph on Ernakulam-Shoranur route and 100 to 110 kmph after Shoranur.[9]
- Except Thursdays
Schedule
The schedule of this 20634/20633 Thiruvananthapuram - Kasaragod Vande Bharat Express is given below:[10]
TVC - KGQ - TVC Vande Bharat Express | ||||
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20634 | Stations | 20633 | ||
Arrival | Departure | Arrival | Departure | |
---- | 05:20 | Thiruvananthapuram Central | 22:35 | ---- |
06:07 | 06:09 | Kollam Junction | 21:18 | 21:20 |
07:25 | 07:27 | Kottayam | 20:00 | 20:02 |
08:17 | 08:20 | Ernakulam Town | 19:05 | 19:08 |
09:22 | 09:24 | Thrissur | 18:03 | 18:05 |
10:02 | 10:04 | Shoranur Junction | 17:28 | 17:30 |
11:03 | 11:05 | Kozhikode | 16:28 | 16:30 |
12:03 | 12:05 | Kannur | 15:28 | 15:30 |
13:25 | ---- | Kasaragod | ---- | 14:30 |
Incidents
Just few days after the commercial run of this Vande Bharat Express train, an unidentified man pelted stones on this express train on Monday, 1 May 2023. This incident occurred near the Tirur railway station in the Malappuram district in Kerala around 5pm in the evening. Despite the crack, this train continued the journey and halted at the Shoranur Junction railway station. Once on arrival, the railway protection force inspected the cracks to find out this issue. Luckily no casualties were reported during this incident. [11][12]
See also
References
- "Vande Bharat Express extended to Kasaragod; 130 kmph speed in 3.5 years: Rail min Ashwini Vaishnaw". English.Mathrubhumi. 18 April 2023. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
- "Kerala's first Vande Bharat Express to run till Kasaragod". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 19 April 2023.
- "PM flags off Vande Bharat service". The Times of India. 26 April 2023. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 26 April 2023.
- Bureau, The Hindu (14 April 2023). "PM Narendra Modi to flag off Kerala's first Vande Bharat service in Thiruvananthapuram on April 25". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
- "PM Modi to announce Vande Bharat train services in Kerala on April 25". English.Mathrubhumi. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
- Bureau, The Hindu (22 April 2023). "PM to flag-off Vande Bharat Express on April 25". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
- "Rousing reception as Vande Bharat train arrives in Kerala". The Times of India. 15 April 2023. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
- "ഏഴു മണിക്കൂറിൽ 501 കിലോമീറ്റർ, 100 കി.മീ. വേഗം കൈവരിക്കാൻ 52 സെക്കൻഡ്; വന്ദേഭാരതിനെ അറിയാം". www.manoramaonline.com. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
- "16 കോച്ചുകളുള്ള തിരുവനന്തപുരം-കണ്ണൂർ ട്രെയിൻ; വിഷുക്കൈനീട്ടമായി വന്ദേഭാരത് കേരളത്തിലെത്തി". Mathrubhumi. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
- "Thiruvananthapuram Central-Kasaragod Vande Bharat Express begins commercial run from today – Know travel time, stoppage points, and significance". Financialexpress. Retrieved 26 April 2023.
- "Stone thrown at Vande Bharat in Kerala within a week of inaugural run; cracks on a window". OnManorama. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
- "Stones pelted at Kerala Vande Bharat Express train in Malappuram district, security alerted, probe underway". DNA India. Retrieved 2 May 2023.