Malgudi Express: From the pages of RK Narayan to the railway tracks of Mysore. - Vageesh

#Traincyclopedia
#9
NAME :
16331/16332 Mumbai Thiruvananthapuram Express
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ROUTE:...
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Mumbai CSTM to Thiruvananthapuram via PUNE-WADI-GTL-DMM-KJM-BWT-SA-ED-PGT-ERS-ALLP-TVC
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ETYMOLOGY:
The train is a normal express train and currently the only train on the Mumbai-Bangalore-Thiruvananthapuram sector
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HISTORY:
After Mumbai got a dedicated train to Kerala in the form of Jayanti Janata Exp, there was a demand for a train to the northern malabar regions of Kannur and Mangalore. So a a new train was introduced in the form of the bi weekly Netravati Express that ran from LTT to Mangalore. The train took a different route from the usual one through Cuddapah. The train took the Guntakal-Dharmavaram-Krishnarajapuram-Bangarapet-Salem route onwards to Shornur. Slip coaches in the train proceeded to the erstwhile Cochin Harbour Terminus while the original train continued to Mangalore. When KR was opened in 1998, the Netravati express was routed through it. It was then that this train was introduced in order to fill the gap in this slot.
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DESCRIPTION:
The train has a 20 coach rake. It is run by TVC division of SR. The train departs daily from CSTM at 12.10 on every Monday and reaches TVC at 03.10 2 days later averaging a speed of 49 kmph. The train offers both AC and non AC sleeper options as well as non AC seating coaches. It has 11 non-ac Sleeper coaches, 2 AC Sleeper 3 Tier coaches, 2 AC 2 tier coaches, 1 Pantry Car, 2 General coaches and 2 General cum Luggage coaches. The train travels on the Mumbai-Chennai Trunk Route till Gooty after which it takes the DMM-KJM trunk line. The train then takes the BWT-SA-ED line from KJM onwards. There is nothing great to write about the cleanliness of the train as SR is horrible with the maintainence. But the train is fairly clean. The train has a good punctual record and is hardly delayed. The train also has a pantry aboard but the food is average. The veg biriyani and the coffee are very good on the train. The train traverses the magnificent Bhor Ghats and the scenery on the Pune-Wadi line is good. There are some big bridges on Krishna and Tungabhadra rivers as well. The train has 40 halts on both the ways. The train is more preferred than the 16381 Jayanti Janata as it is faster and takes a shorter route. Connectivity to Bangalore is an extra advantage. The train shares slot with 16339 CSTM-Nagarcoil exp till Erode after which it has an independent slot till TVC.
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LOCO LINK:
The train gets a WDM3D from Erode shed in the run from Mumbai to Erode. A WAP 4 from ED or RPM shed then hauls the train till TVC
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RSA:
06312- Trivandrum Chennai Special
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VERDICT:
It was the fastest direct connection to Palakkad other than the CSTM-CAPE express which was outdone by the DR-TEN SF via KR.
The train is reasonably clean and food is satisfactory. On the whole it is an average train with decent occupancy.
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FARES
AC 2 Tier :2770 INR
AC 3 Tier: 1880 INR
Sleeper Class: 710 INR
General: 415 INR
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RATINGS:
Speed: Poor......................4/10
Comfort: Fair.....................7/10
Cleanliness: Average.......5/10
Food: okay ......................6/10
Punctuality : V. Good.........8/10
Total score: ....................30/50