Chennai Central–Coimbatore Shatabdi Express Explained

Color:ADD8E6
MGR Chennai Central – Coimbatore
Shatabdi Express
Type:Shatabdi Express
First: as Duronto Express, as Shatabdi Express [1] [2] [3] [4]
Operator:Southern Railways
Start: (MAS)
Stops:4
End: (CBE)
Distance:492.85 km (Chargeable distance 502 km)
Journeytime:6h 40m
Frequency:6 days a week
Class:Executive class, AC chair car
Seating:Yes
Sleeping:No
Catering:Yes
Observation:Large windows
Baggage:Overhead racks
Stock:LHB coach
Gauge:Broad –
Trainnumber:12243/12244
Speed:77 km/h (average)
Map State:collapsed

The Chennai Central–Coimbatore Shatabdi Express is a Shatabdi Express train between and in Tamil Nadu.

History

The Shatabdi Express which was running from 1995[5] and 2000 was stopped because it had occupancy of 60 percent as cited by Railways, It was replaced with an Intercity Express departing at identical timings.[6] Later, Indian railways introduced a Duronto Express between Chennai and Coimbatore in 2011. It was converted to Shatabdi Express on 22 Nov 2013 with commercial stoppages to increase revenues as Duronto Express should have had no commercial halt then though it could have operational/ technical halt(s) if it was needed for railways.[7] [8] [9] [10]

Rake composition & coaches

The 12243/44 MGR Chennai Central–Coimbatore Junction Shatabdi Express presently has 1 Executive class, 7 AC chair car and 2 end-on generator coaches. The train runs with modern LHB coaches.[11]

The coaches in Light blue colour indicate AC Chair Cars and the coaches in Violet colour indicate Executive Chair Car.

Route and stations

The train has 5 commercial stops in between the starting station and the ending station namely,,,, and .

By comparing with distance written on Chennai Division Map on Southern Railway website and distance written in timetable of a train having stoppages at AVADI and HINDU COLLEGE(H) on official website (If there is no reserved train having stoppages at both places, please view where schedule of unreserved trains is available on official website to verify because you don't find anything if you view the place on official website where only reserved train schedule is available.), the chargeable distance is increased by 6-7 km between AVADI and HINDU COLLEGE(H) and by comparing with distance written on Chennai Division Map and Salem Division Map both on Southern Railway website taking together, and on the other hand, distance written in timetable of a train on official website having stoppages at JOLARPETTAI and TIRUPATTUR JN (If there is no reserved train having stoppages at both places, please view where schedule of unreserved trains is available on official website to verify because you don't find anything if you view the place on official website where only reserved train schedule is available.), the chargeable distance is increased by about 4 km between JOLARPETTAI and TIRUPATTUR JN. Maybe the reason behind increasing is higher cost for special railway infrastructure of these regions (not sure). As per just mentioned Chennai Division Map and Salem Division Map both on Southern Railway website taking together, distance between MGR Chennai Central and IRUGUR(H) is 475.15 km and IRUGUR(H) to COIMBATORE JN is 17.70 km and taking their sum is 492.85 km which is real distance between MGR Chennai Central and Coimbatore but chargeable distance is 502 km. It is readers responsibility to check if following links are official or not: https://sr.indianrailways.gov.in/ (search maps on it) https://enquiry.indianrail.gov.in/mntes/ https://www.irctc.co.in/nget/train-search

See also

Notes and References

  1. https://sr.indianrailways.gov.in/view_detail.jsp?lang=0&id=0,4,268&dcd=1748&did=1384945469786E10FEB01DA729364AF74C1E333ABCD05.web103
  2. https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/duronto-to-run-as-shatabdi-trains/article5372763.ece
  3. https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/transportation/railways/chennai-coimbatore-duronto-express-withdrawn-due-to-poor-patronage-southern-railway/articleshow/26107801.cms
  4. https://www.deccanchronicle.com/131121/news-current-affairs/article/kovai-duronto-converted-shatabdi-rajdhani-services
  5. Web site: [IRFCA] Trains introduced by railway ministers.
  6. Web site: S. Rly introduces seven new trains.
  7. Web site: Southern Railway Welcomes You . 2024-05-23 . sr.indianrailways.gov.in.
  8. News: Duronto to run as Shatabdi. The Hindu. 24 March 2015.
  9. News: 2013-11-20 . Chennai-Coimbatore Duronto Express withdrawn due to poor patronage: Southern Railway . 2024-05-23 . The Economic Times . 0013-0389.
  10. Web site: 2013-11-21 . Kovai Duronto converted to Shatabdi with Rajdhani services . 2024-05-23 . . en.
  11. News: Chennai Kovai Shatabdi to sport new look. 24 March 2015.