Ola22W86488 at 13:53, 1 March 2026

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{{short description|Express train service between Alappuzha and Chennai}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2020}}
{{Infobox rail service
| box_width = 45em
| name = MGR Chennai Central Alappuzha Superfast Express
| logo =
| logo_width =
| image = Alleppy_express_cropped_2014-06-20_23-28.JPG
| image_width =480px
| caption = MGR Chennai Central Alleppey Superfast Express
| type = Superfast
| status = Operating
| locale = [[Kerala]] and [[Tamil Nadu]]
| first = {{start date and age|df=yes|1966|04|01}}
| last =
| operator = [[Southern Railway zone]]
| formeroperator= South Indian Railway
| ridership =Southern Railway
| start = {{stnlnk|Alappuzha}}
| stops = 23
| end = {{stnlnk|MGR Chennai Central}}
| distance = {{convert|747|km|abbr=on}}
| journeytime = 13 hours, 40 minutes
| frequency = Daily
| class = AC 1st cum AC 2 Tier, AC 3 Tier, Sleeper class, Unreserved, SLR
| access = -
| seating = Yes
| sleeping = yes
| autorack =YES
| catering = Pantry car not available
| observation =
| entertainment=
| baggage = Below the seats
| otherfacilities= Toilets
| stock = [[ LHB coach]]
| gauge = Broad
| el = 100%
| speed = {{convert|65|km/h}}
| map = [[File:(Chennai–Alleppey) Express route map.png|290px|(Chennai–Alleppey) Express route map]]
| map_state = KERALA &TAMILNADU
}}

'''Alappuzha (Alleppey)–MGR Chennai Central Superfast Express''' is a class of Superfast Express train that runs daily from [[MGR Chennai Central]] to [[Alappuzha]]. It is one of the oldest trains in the [[Southern Railway zone|Southern Railway]] zone of the [[Indian Railways]].

==History==
The train began its life as the 41/42 Madras Central (MAS)–Cochin Terminus (CHTS) Kerala Express on 1 April 1966.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Tables 10-11–SR – 1977TT|url=https://www.irfca.org/gallery/Heritage/timetables/All_India_1977/All_India_1977_SR/Tables+10-11+-+SR+-+1977TT.JPG.html?|publisher=IRFCA|access-date=2020-05-15}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=chts1|url=https://www.irfca.org/gallery/Heritage/timetables/Miscellaneous_Timetables/chts1.jpg.html?|publisher=IRFCA|access-date=2020-05-17}}</ref> It was one of two new express trains introduced in the budget of [[Panampilly Govinda Menon|Panampilly Govindha Menon]] (though he did not present the budget) for southern railway.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Panampilly Govinda Menon rail budget|url=https://14.139.13.47:8080/jspui/bitstream/10603/168470/4/13_chapter5.pdf}}{{Dead link|date=December 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref> The other express train being the [[West Coast Express (India)|West Coast Express]]. It was the first diesel express train to run south of Madras (with an [[Diesel Loco Shed, Erode|Erode]] [[Indian locomotive class WDM-2|WDM-2]]). The scheduled departure from Cochin harbour terminus was at 08:00 pm and arrived in Madras Central at 10.00 am. The reverse train departed Madras central at 16:00 am and arrived at Cochin harbour terminus at 06:00 am (similar to timings of present-day Thiruvananthapuram -Chennai Express).<ref>{{Cite web|title=Tables 10-11 – SR – 1977TT|url=https://www.irfca.org/gallery/Heritage/timetables/All_India_1977/All_India_1977_SR/Tables+10-11+-+SR+-+1977TT.JPG.html?|publisher=IRFCA|access-date=2020-05-17}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Table 2A – SR – 1977TT|url=https://www.irfca.org/gallery/Heritage/timetables/All_India_1977/All_India_1977_SR/Table+2A+-+SR+-+1977TT.JPG.html?|publisher=IRFCA|access-date=2020-05-17}}</ref> It took much less time to reach Madras than the 19/20 mail (14 Hours vs 15 hours).<ref>{{Cite web|title=brad_60_Apr_p23|url=https://www.irfca.org/gallery/Heritage/timetables/Miscellaneous_Timetables/brad_60_Apr_p23.jpg.html?|publisher=IRFCA|access-date=2020-05-17}}</ref>

Initially, the 41/42 express was to be extended to Thiruvananthapuram in 1978 but instead during 1979, the 19/20 mail was extended.<ref name="chts1 003">{{Cite web|title=chts1 003|url=https://www.irfca.org/gallery/Heritage/timetables/Miscellaneous_Timetables/chts1+003.jpg.html?|publisher=IRFCA|access-date=2020-05-17}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=1979_Madras___Cochin_Abstract|url=https://www.irfca.org/gallery/Heritage/timetables/Miscellaneous_Timetables/1979_Madras___Cochin_Abstract.jpg.html?|publisher=IRFCA|access-date=2020-05-17}}</ref> The 19/20 mail is the predecessor of the now [[Thiruvananthapuram Mail|Thiruvananthapuram–Chennai Central Mail.]] The 41/42 Express became the Cochin Express after its name "Kerala Express" was taken over by 125/126 [[Kerala Express|Thiruvananthapuram–New Delhi Express]].

The rake maintenance was done at Chennai Central. The train formerly used to have passenger quotas like {{stnlnk|Ongole}} quota, [[Navjeevan Express|Navjivan]] quota, [[Coromandel Express|Coromandel]] quota etc. for long-distance travel from Madras Central. In the 1980s the train got its stoppage removed from Coimbatore due to infrastructural constrains on the {{stnlnk|Irugur Junction}}–{{stnlnk|Coimbatore Junction}} line.<ref name="years">{{cite news|last1=V. S. Palaniappan|title=After 30 years, Alleppey express to halt at Coimbatore|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Coimbatore/after-30-years-alleppey-express-to-halt-at-coimbatore/article3447065.ece|accessdate=26 October 2016|work=[[The Hindu]]|date=23 May 2012|location=[[Coimbatore]]}}</ref> By 1982, the timings of the train had been reversed. Departure from Cochin was moved to 04:05 pm and was to reach Madras at 06:50 in the morning.<ref>{{Cite web|title=chts-mas sl|url=https://www.irfca.org/gallery/Heritage/chts_jimmy/chts-mas+sl.jpg.html?|publisher=IRFCA|access-date=2020-05-17}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=chts-mas sl1|url=https://www.irfca.org/gallery/Heritage/chts_jimmy/chts-mas+sl1.jpg.html?|publisher=IRFCA|access-date=2020-05-17}}</ref> The reverse Train departure from Madras was at 7:00 pm and arrival in Cochin at 10:00 am.<ref>{{Cite web|title=chts1 004|url=https://www.irfca.org/gallery/Heritage/timetables/Miscellaneous_Timetables/chts1+004.jpg.html?|publisher=IRFCA|access-date=2020-05-17}}</ref>

=== Extension to Alappuzha (1991–present) ===
During 1991, the historic train bid goodbye to Cochin Terminus as it was extended to the [[Ernakulam–Kayamkulam coastal line|newly inaugurated line]] to Alleppey. It was renumbered 6041/6042 in 1990.<ref name="chts1 003"/><ref>{{Cite web|title=Untitled-1 copy|url=https://www.irfca.org/gallery/Heritage/timetables/Miscellaneous_Timetables/Untitled-1+copy.jpg.html?g2_imageViewsIndex=1|publisher=IRFCA|access-date=2020-05-17}}</ref> In 2004 the train was to be converted to Superfast express category numbered 2681/2682, but due to strong protests, the move was not implemented. It was again renumbered 16041/16042 in 2005.The Government of Kerala, in 2012, has officially asked an extension of this train to [[Kochuveli railway station|Vikram Sarabhai Terminal]] in the state capital of [[Thiruvananthapuram]] but the demand was never materialised and from 23 Sep 2012, the train reentered Coimbatore junction, after nearly a gap of 30 long years after the double line via Irugur was commissioned.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Palaniappan|first=V. s|date=2012-05-23|title=Chennai–Alleppey Express to have Coimbatore halt after 30 years|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/chennai-alleppey-express-to-have-coimbatore-halt-after-30-years/article3447671.ece|access-date=2020-05-17|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> On 16 Jun 2014, the First Class non AC coaches were removed and have been replaced by a 3A coach.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Fc coaches removed|url=https://forum.irfca.org/threads/fc-removed-from-chennai-alleppey-and-chennai-trivandrum-express.32959/#post-227405}}{{Dead link|date=December 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref> The train was upgraded to Superfast express category from 13-07-2014 with new train numbers 22639/22640.<ref>{{Cite web|title=CHANGE IN TRAIN NUMBERS – Railway Enquiry|url=https://indiarailinfo.com/blog/post/1095170|last=Kohilan|first=Subawarana|website=India Rail Info|access-date=2020-05-17}}</ref><ref name="indiarail_sched">{{cite web|title=Train Schedule|url=http://www.indianrail.gov.in/inet_trn_num.html|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110429193316/http://www.indianrail.gov.in/inet_trn_num.html|archivedate=29 April 2011}}</ref>

The train's assigned number is 22639. The corresponding Chennai Superfast Express runs from Alleppey to Chennai (train number 22640).

==Coach composition ==
The train used to have all classes of accommodation, 1st AC, 2nd AC, 3rd AC, Sleeper class and General Sitting and now it shares its rake with the [[Chennai–Thiruvananthapuram Superfast Express]]{{citation needed|date=February 2025}}.
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders unsortable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:#007F0E;" | Loco-WAP4 ERODE /ARAKKONAM
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:yellow;" | 1
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:orange;" | 2
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:crimson;" | 4
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:crimson;" | 5
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:crimson;" | 6
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:crimson;" | 7
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:crimson;" | 8
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:crimson;" | 9
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:crimson;" | 10
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:crimson;" | 11
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:crimson;" | 12
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:#00FFFF;" | 13
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:#00FFFF;" | 14
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:#00FFFF;" | 15
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:#00FFFF;" | 16
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:#00FFFF;" | 17
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:lightskyblue;" | 18
!19
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:lightskyblue;" | 20
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:#B200FF;" | 21
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:orange;" | 22
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:yellow;" | 23
|-
|[[File:BSicon_LDER.svg|10px]]|| SLR|| UR || || S10 || S9 || S8 || S7 || S6 || S5 || S4 || S3|| S2 || S1 | | || B2 || B1 || A1
|A2|| H1 |UR | | | SLR
|-
|}

[[File:Alappuzha–Chennai Express.jpg|thumb|Alappuzha–Chennai Express standing in [[Palakkad Junction]].]]

== Incidents ==

* Four people were killed and 49 injured on 6 December 1997 due to bomb blast when the [[Alappuzha]] bound train from [[Chennai]] reached [[Thrissur railway station]] {{Citation needed|date=August 2022}}
* Four students, who were walking along the railway track near Coimbatore under the influence of liquor, were killed after being hit by a Chennai-bound express train.<ref>{{Cite web|title=4 Students Die in Tamil Nadu's Coimbatore After Getting Hit by a Train|url=https://www.ndtv.com/tamil-nadu-news/4-students-dies-in-coimbatore-being-hit-by-train-2132677|website=NDTV.com|access-date=2020-05-17}}</ref>

== Legacy ==
There is a movie called ''[[Cochin Express]]'' in Malayalam which is film in the 41/42 express.{{Citation needed|date=May 2020}}

==See also==
*[[Thiruvananthapuram Mail]]
*[[Chennai Egmore–Guruvayur Express]]
*[[West Coast Express (India)|West Coast Express]]
*[[Kerala Express]]
*[[Cheran Superfast Express]]
*[[Nilgiri Express]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://indiarailinfo.com/train/map/34/35/54 Alleppey Express Route]

{{Railways in Southern India}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chennai Central-Alappuzha Express}}
[[Category:Express trains in India]]
[[Category:Rail transport in Kerala]]
[[Category:Rail transport in Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Transport in Alappuzha]]
[[Category:Transport in Chennai]]

Alappuzha Chennai Express - Revision history

Ola22W86488 at 13:53, 1 March 2026