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{{short description|Train in India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2014}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2015}}
{{Infobox rail service
| name = Ganga Kaveri Express
| image =
| image_width =
| caption = Ganga Kaveri Express train board
| type = [[Express trains in India|Express]]
| locale = [[Tamil Nadu]], [[Andhra Pradesh]], [[Telangana State]], [[Maharashtra]], [[Madhya Pradesh]], [[Uttar Pradesh]] & [[Bihar]]
| first = {{start date and age|df=yes|1984|01|01}}
| last =
| operator = [[Southern Railway zone|Southern Railways]]
| start = [[Chennai Central]] '''(MAS)'''
| stops = 22
| end = [[Chhapra Junction railway station|Chhapra]] '''(CPR)'''
| distance = {{convert|2341|km|0|abbr=on}}
| journeytime = 40 hrs
| frequency = Bi-weekly
| class = AC 1st Class, AC 2 Tier, AC 3 Tier, Sleeper Class, General Unreserved.
| seating = Yes
| sleeping = Yes
| catering = Available
| observation =
| baggage = Available
| otherfacilities = Below the seats
| trainnumber = 12669 / 12670
| stock = [[ICF Coaches]]
| gauge = {{RailGauge|1676mm}}
| speed = {{convert|55|km/h|0|abbr=on}} average with halts
| map = [[File:Ganga_Kaveri_Express_(Chennai_-_Chhapra)_Route_map.png|300px]]
| map_state =
}}

The 12669 / 12670 '''Ganga Kaveri Express''' is a bi-weekly [[Express trains in India|Express]] train service operated by [[Indian Railways]], connecting [[Chennai]] in [[South India|Southern India]] to [[Chhapra]] in [[Bihar]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://indiarailinfo.com/train/471 |title=12669/Ganga Kaveri Express (PT) - Chennai to Chhapra SR/Southern Zone - Railway Enquiry |access-date=2008-09-26 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080926030757/http://indiarailinfo.com/train/471 |archive-date=26 September 2008 |df=dmy }}, ''[[India Rail Info]]'',11 April 2015.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://indiarailinfo.com/train/472 |title=12670/Ganga Kaveri Express - Chhapra to Chennai SR/Southern Zone - Railway Enquiry |access-date=2008-09-27 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080927042950/http://indiarailinfo.com/train/472 |archive-date=27 September 2008 |df=dmy }}, ''[[India Rail Info]]'',11 April 2015.</ref> Inaugurated on 16 February 1977 by [[Kamalpati Tripathi]],<ref>[http://www.irfca.org/docs/ministers-trains.html], ''[IRFCA.com]'',11 April 2015.</ref> between [[Madras]] (now [[Chennai]]) and [[Varanasi]], was terminating at [[Chennai Beach Station]], from where [[Metre gauge railway|MG]] Ganga Kaveri Express used to run to [[Rameswaram]] through the [[Kaveri river|Kaveri river basin]].

==Etymology==
It is named after two Indian Rivers; [[Ganga]] (which flows in the holy city of [[Varanasi]], also [[Chhapra]]) and [[Kaveri river]] (a River which flows in the [[South India|Southern states]] of [[Karnataka]] and [[Tamil Nadu]]).

==History==
The superfast of Train Number 139/140 started its service to [[Varanasi]] from [[Chennai Beach station|Madras Beach station]], from the opposite Platform where an ''[[Metre gauge railway|MG]] Ganga Kaveri Express'' used to run to [[Rameswaram]] since [[Chennai Beach station|Chennai Beach]] - [[Chennai Egmore]] - [[Rameswaram]] line was still in Metre Gauge. Later the superfast status was erased, made to terminate at [[Madras Central]] (now [[Chennai Central]] instead of [[Madras Beach]] (now [[Chennai Beach station|Chennai Beach]]) as an [[Express trains in India|Express]] and connection with [[Madras]] - [[Rameswaram]] Exp removed and name changed from Ganga Kaveri Exp to Madras - Varanasi Express. Thus increased halts at some stations, converted from one-night to two-nights train, slowed down by more than 3 hours, Green and Yellow colored Rakes withdrawn and AC sleeper service introduced.<ref>[http://irfca.org/docs/altered-trains.html], ''[IRFCA.com]'',11 April 2015.</ref> Later, in 90's [[Jaffer Sharief]] introduced the train which is running currently as Ganga Kaveri Express<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20080927042950/http://indiarailinfo.com/train/472], ''[indiarailinfo.com]'',11 April 2015.</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20080926030757/http://indiarailinfo.com/train/471], ''[indiarailinfo.com]'',11 April 2015.</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20131004013223/http://www.indiamike.com/india/indian-railways-f10/chennai-to-varanasi-by-train-t17482/], ''[www.indiamike.com]'',11 April 2015.</ref> for the benefit of [[South India]]n tourists, willing to travel to holy city of [[Varanasi]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20090124173200/http://whereincity.com/india/trains/time-table/2670.htm], ''[whereincity.com]'',11 April 2015.</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20111118113345/http://www.whereincity.com/india/trains/time-table/2669.htm], ''[whereincity.com]'',11 April 2015.</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20150406035627/http://allahabadnagarnigam.in/english/RailwaysChart.htm], ''[[Allahabad Nagar Nigam]]'',11 April 2015.</ref> This train was extended to [[Chhapra]] in December 2006 despite a stiff opposition from the Local [[South India]]ns in [[Varanasi]], who alleged that quota may be reduced for [[Varanasi]] bound passengers.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20120525123440/http://www.india9.com/i9show/Ganga-Kaveri-Express-56357.htm], ''[india9.com]'',11 April 2015.</ref><ref>[http://www.hindustantimes.com/nm20/chhapra-set-to-be-final-halt-for-ganga-kaveri-express/article1-179169.aspx], ''[[Hindustan Times]]'',11 April 2015.</ref> Currently, this train is under criticism since the name of the train currently running wasn't suitable (because this train originates in [[Chennai]] not in [[Tiruchirappalli|Trichy]] where [[Kaveri|Kaveri river]] is running and in Chennai only [[Cooum River|Coovum river]] is there and hence reason).Also passengers are requesting to change these old, rusting coaches(this train was running still with old ICF rakes for 40+ years) to new [[LHB coaches|LHB rakes]] since this train is highly preferred for local tourist organisations and senior citizens following [[Hinduism]] for doing last rites such as [[Funeral|Funeral ceremony]] and ceremonies to the deceased ancestors and also it is the only straight train from Chennai to Varanasi.

==Route==
The following are the major junctions en route: [[Gudur]], [[Ongole]], [[Vijayawada railway station|Vijayawada]], [[Khammam]], [[Warangal]], [[Ramagundam]], [[Balharshah Junction railway station|Balharshah]], [[Nagpur railway station|Nagpur]], [[Itarsi Junction|Itarsi]], [[Jabalpur Junction railway station|Jabalpur]], [[Katni railway station|Katni]], [[Satna railway station|Satna]], [[Allahabad railway station|Allahabad]], [[Varanasi Junction railway station|Varanasi]] and [[Ghazipur|Ghazipur city]].

==Traction==

It is hauled by a [[Electric Loco Shed, Royapuram|Royapuram]] based [[WAP 7]] or [[Electric Loco Shed, Erode|Erode]] based [[WAP 4]] locomotive from '''Chennai Central''' to '''Itarsi Jn.'''. And then handing over to an [[Itarsi Junction|Itarsi]] / [[Katni railway station|Katni]] based [[WDM 3A]] twins locomotive from '''Itarsi Jn.''' to '''Chhapra Jn.''' and vice versa.

==Coach composition==
The train has 1 AC First Cum AC Two Tier, 3 AC Two Tier, 2 AC Three Tier, 13 Sleeper Classes, 2 General Unreserved, 2 Luggage cum Passenger Car and 1 Pantry Car (Total 24 coaches)

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders unsortable" style="text-align:center"
|-
!scope="col" rowspan="1" style="background:brown;"| Loco
!scope="col" rowspan="1" style="background:green;"| 1
!scope="col" rowspan="1" style="background:green;"| 2
!scope="col" rowspan="1" style="background:lightskyblue;"| 3
!scope="col" rowspan="1" style="background:lightskyblue;"| 4
!scope="col" rowspan="1" style="background:lightskyblue;"| 5
!scope="col" rowspan="1" style="background:lightskyblue;"| 6
!scope="col" rowspan="1" style="background:lightskyblue;"| 7
!scope="col" rowspan="1" style="background:lightskyblue;"| 8
!scope="col" rowspan="1" style="background:lightskyblue;"| 9
!scope="col" rowspan="1" style="background:lightskyblue;"| 10
!scope="col" rowspan="1" style="background:lightskyblue;"| 11
!scope="col" rowspan="1" style="background:lightskyblue;"| 12
!scope="col" rowspan="1" style="background:lightskyblue;"| 13
!scope="col" rowspan="1" style="background:lightskyblue;"| 14
!scope="col" rowspan="1" style="background:lightskyblue;"| 15
!scope="col" rowspan="1" style="background:lightskyblue;"| 16
!scope="col" rowspan="1" style="background:yellow;"| 17
!scope="col" rowspan="1" style="background:yellow;"| 18
!scope="col" rowspan="1" style="background:lightgreen;"| 19
!scope="col" rowspan="1" style="background:lightgreen;"| 20
!scope="col" rowspan="1" style="background:lightgreen;"| 21
!scope="col" rowspan="1" style="background:red;"| 22
!scope="col" rowspan="1" style="background:green;"| 23
!scope="col" rowspan="1" style="background:green;"| 24
|-
|[[File:BSicon LDER.svg|25px]] ||SLR||GS||S13||S12||S11||S10||S9||S8||S7||S6||S5||S4||S3||PC||S2||S1||B2||B1||A3||A2||A1||HA1||GS||SLR
|}

It shares its rake with two trains.

12615 / 12616 & 12621 /12622 Chennai Central - New Delhi Grand Trunk Superfast Express & Tamil Nadu Superfast Express

==See also==

*[[Tamil Nadu Express]]
*[[Sanghamithra Express]]
*[[Bagmati Express]]
*[[Manikarnika Express]]
*[[List of named passenger trains of India]]
*[[Indian Railways - Travel Coach types and their seating / berths]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080926030757/http://indiarailinfo.com/train/471 Ganga Kaveri Express] at India Rail Info
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080927042950/http://indiarailinfo.com/train/472 Ganga Kaveri Express] at India Rail Info

{{Railways in Southern India}}
{{Railways in Northern India}}
{{Railway lines in Eastern India}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ganga Kaveri Express}}
[[Category:Transport in Chennai]]
[[Category:Transport in Chhapra]]
[[Category:Named passenger trains of India]]
[[Category:Railway services introduced in 1977]]
[[Category:Express trains in India]]
[[Category:Rail transport in Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Rail transport in Andhra Pradesh]]
[[Category:Rail transport in Telangana]]
[[Category:Rail transport in Maharashtra]]
[[Category:Rail transport in Madhya Pradesh]]
[[Category:Rail transport in Uttar Pradesh]]
[[Category:Rail transport in Bihar]]

Ganga Kaveri Express - Revision history

>Vatsmaxed at 17:04, 4 June 2021