Pothigai Superfast Express

The Pothigai Superfast Express is an overnight Superfast train service operated between Chennai Egmore and Sengottai via Villupuram, Trichy, Madurai and Rajapalayam on the Southern Railway zone of the Indian Railways.[1][2][3]

Pothigai Superfast Express
Pothigai Express
Overview
StatusOperating
LocaleTamil Nadu
Current operator(s)Southern Railway zone
Route
StartSengottai (SCT)
EndChennai Egmore (MS)
Service frequencyDaily
Train number(s)12661/12662
On-board services
Class(es)2A, 3A, SL, SLR, SLRD and UR/GS
Disabled access
Seating arrangementsCorridor coach (UR/GS only)
Sleeping arrangementsCouchette car
Auto-rack arrangementsNo
Catering facilitiesNo
Entertainment facilitiesYes
Technical
Track owner(s)Southern Railway zone
Rake maintenanceTirunelveli Junction
Rake sharingNellai Superfast Express
Route map

Train 12661 starts daily at 8:40PM departing Chennai Egmore for Sengottai, and train number 12662 in the opposite direction.[4]

History

The name of the train commemorates the Pothigai Hills, also known as Agasthiyar Mountain, which is a 1,866-metre (6,122 ft)-tall peak in the southern part of the Western Ghats of South India. The western slope is located in the Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala state, the eastern slope of Pothigai hills is in the Tirunelveli district, southern slope is located in the Kanyakumari district of Tamil Nadu. At 1,866 meters, it is the highest peak in the rugged Ashambu hills, which have one of the richest concentrations of biodiversity in the Western Ghats.[3] The area is known for its extensive views, forests, waterfalls, ancient temples, and the river Tamirabarani, the lifeline of the region. So, the train was named "Pothigai Express" to remember the Pothigai hills. It is a standard train consisting of commercial coaches. The main towns on the way are Chengalpattu, Villupuram, Tiruchirapalli, Madurai, Virudhunagar, Sivakasi, Srivilliputhur, Rajapalayam, sankarankovil and Tenkasi. The train covers a distance of 667km. the service started on 20 September 2004.

Route

Prominent stoppages Chennai Egmore, Tambaram, Chengalpattu Jn, Villupuram Jn, Vriddhachalam Jn, Tiruchchirappalli Jn, Dindigul Jn, Madurai Jn, Virudhunagar Junction, Tiruthangal, Sivakasi, Srivilliputhur, Rajapalayam, Sankarankovil, Paambu Kovil Sandhai, Kadayanallur, Tenkasi Jn, Sengottai.

Schedule
12661 MS-SCT STATION KMs 12662 SCT-MS
08.15 SCT/Sengottai 000.0 18.20
07.33/07.35 TSI/Tenkasi Junction 007.9 18.33/18.35
07.04/07.05 KDNL/Kadayanallur 023.9 18.49/18.50
06.47/06.48 PBKS/Pamba kovil Sanady 033.0 19.02/19.03
07.04/07.05 SNKL/Sankarankovil 044.7 19.15/19.17
CPM/Cholapuram 066.0
06.10/06.12 RJPM/Rajapalayam 077.7 19.40/19.42
05.57/05.58 SVPR/Srivilliputtur 089.0 19.54/19.55
05.41/05.42 SVKS/Sivakasi 105.9 20.08/20.10
05.34/05.35 TTL/Tiruttangal 108.8 20.16/20.17
SLGM/Sankaralingapuram 117.8
05.13/05.15 VPT/Viruthunagar Junction 130.2 20.38/20.40
TMQ/Tirumangalam 156.3
04.25/04.30 MDU/Madurai Junction 173.7 21.35/21.40
KQN/Kodaikanal Road 213.8
03.25/03.30 DG/Dindigul Junction 236.0 22.55/23.00
01.55/02.00 TPJ/Tiruchirapalli Junction 330.3 00.10/00.15
SRGM/Srirangam 342.0
ALU/Ariyalur 401.1
23.55/23.57 VRI/Vridhachalam Junction 453.6 01.43/01.45
ULU/ Ulundurpet 472.8
23.13/23.15 VM/Villupuram Junction 508.4 02.55/03.00
TMV/Tindivanam 545.7
MLMR/Melmaruvathur 575.8
MMK/Madurantakam 586.7
21.38/21.40 CGL/Chengalpattu Junction 611.3 04.18/04.20
21.08/21.10 TBM/Tambaram 642.3 04.48/04.50
MBM/ Mambalam 660.0
20.40 MS/Chennai Egmore 666.9 05.50

Coach Composition

The train has 23 bogies comprising one A/C second-tier, six A/C three-tier, eleven sleeper class, 3 unreserved general coaches and 2 luggage rakes.[lower-alpha 1]

Loco 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22
EOGD1D2A1B1B2B3B4B5S1S2S3S4S5S6S7S8S9S10S11D3EOG
  • 1 AC II Tier
  • 6 AC III Tier
  • 11 Sleeper
  • 3 Unreserved
  • 2 EOG cars.

Its top speed is 110 km/h. . It is running with brand new LHB Coaches since 4 September 2018.

See also

Notes
  1. The coach composition is subject to change.

References
  1. "EXTENDED TO SENGOTTAI". Southern Railway press release No.186. 2008. Archived from the original on 11 February 2008. Retrieved 4 April 2009.
  2. Staff reporter (6 May 2007). "Pothigai Express to run 6 days a week". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 8 May 2007. Retrieved 4 April 2009.
  3. Special correspondent (6 February 2008). "Pothigai Express extended to Senkottai". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 9 February 2008. Retrieved 4 April 2009.
  4. "Timings of Podhigai, Nellai Express trains to change". The Hindu online edition.


This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.