West Coast Express (India)
The 22637 / 22638 West Coast Superfast Express is a daily train connecting the city of Chennai, in Tamil Nadu, with the port city of Mangalore in Karnataka via Palakkad Junction.[1] It is one of the trains connecting the Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea and the oldest train.
| Overview | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service type | Superfast | ||||
| Locale | Tamil Nadu, Kerala & Karnataka | ||||
| First service | 1 April 1965 | ||||
| Current operator(s) | Southern Railways | ||||
| Route | |||||
| Start | Chennai Central (MAS) | ||||
| Stops | 30 | ||||
| End | Mangalore Central (MAQ) | ||||
| Distance travelled | 902 km (560 mi) | ||||
| Average journey time | 16 Hrs 20 Mins | ||||
| Service frequency | Daily | ||||
| Train number(s) | 22637 / 22638 | ||||
| On-board services | |||||
| Class(es) | Second AC, Third AC, Sleeper, General Unreserved | ||||
| Seating arrangements | Yes | ||||
| Sleeping arrangements | Yes | ||||
| Catering facilities | On-board Catering E-Catering | ||||
| Observation facilities | Large windows | ||||
| Technical | |||||
| Rolling stock | ICF Coaches | ||||
| Track gauge | 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) | ||||
| Operating speed | 55 km/h (34 mph) average including halts | ||||
| |||||
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The name traces to the location of Mangalore which is on the west coast of India. It is one of the oldest trains and also provides a day-time connectivity to Palakkad from Chennai.
The train shares its rake with the Chennai Mangalore Mail which also traverses the same route.
In 2014 Ministry of Indian Railways Announced the Service Type of West Coast Express as Superfast The Schedule and Train Number also Changed from 16627/16628-> 22637/22638.
History
Introduced in 1965 as a Mail/Express train sharing rakes with Chennai Mangalore Mail. It was upgraded to Superfast Express train on June 2014.
Loco Link and Coach Composition
When introduced, it ran with a WDM-2 from Erode Diesel Loco Shed for the whole journey. Later after 1990 when the route electrified till Erode, it used electric locomotive from Chennai to Erode and a diesel loco from Erode to Mangalore. After electrification till Mangalore was completed, it now uses WAP-4 / WAP 7 in its entire journey.
It has a total of 23 coaches excluding the locomotive. It has 1 HCPV or High Capacity Parcel Van, 2 Guard Vans (One at each end). 4 General Compartments (1 GS compartment illegally occupied by RMS), 11 Sleeper Coaches, 4 AC Three Tier, 1 AC Two Tier. and an RMS. When it departs Mangalore Central as 22638 for the return journey to Chennai, The RMS or Rail Mail Service coach is put at the end of the train.
Station Stops
Chennai to Mangalore
List of stops on the West Coast Express from Chennai to Mangalore.[2]
Mangalore to Chennai
List of stops on the West Coast Express from Mangalore to Chennai.[3]