Mangaluru Central–Thiruvananthapuram Vande Bharat Express

The 20631/20632 Mangaluru Central - Thiruvananthapuram Vande Bharat Express is India's 33rd Vande Bharat Express train, connecting South Karnataka's coastal city Mangaluru (Mangalore) with Kerala's south and state capital Thiruvananthapuram. It is the second Vande Bharat Express in Kerala as well as India's first saffron coloured semi-high speed train (replaced with White Blue Vandebharat rake of the pairing train after extension to Mangalore Central). The first Vande Bharat train in Kerala started its service between Kasaragod and Thiruvananthapuram via Kottayam route in April 2023. [1] With increase in patronage, there has been a strong demand by the passengers to have a second Vande Bharat between Mangalore and Thiruvananthapuram so as to increase the frequency of this route per day to three trains. This vande bharat express is the fastest train between Mangaluru Central to Thiruvananthapuram Central and vice versa

Mangaluru Central - Thiruvananthapuram Central
Vande Bharat Express
First Saffron-Grey Mini Vande Bharat Express at Trivandrum Central departing for Kasaragod
Overview
Service typeVande Bharat Express
StatusActive
LocaleKarnataka and Kerala
First service25 September 2023 (25 September 2023) (Commercial run)
12 March 2024; 8 months ago (12 March 2024) (Extended run)
Current operator(s)Southern Railways (SR)
Route
TerminiMangaluru Central (MAQ)
Thiruvananthapuram Central (TVC)
Stops9
Distance travelled620 km (385 mi)
Average journey time08hrs 40mins
Service frequency6 days a week[a]
Train number(s)20631 / 20632
Line(s) usedShoranur–Mangalore section
Shoranur–Cochin Harbour section
Ernakulam–Kayamkulam coastal line
Kollam–Thiruvananthapuram trunk line
On-board services
Class(es)AC Chair Car, AC Executive Chair Car
Seating arrangements
  • Airline style
  • Rotatable seats
Sleeping arrangementsNo
Catering facilitiesOn-board catering
Observation facilitiesLarge windows in all coaches
Entertainment facilities
Baggage facilitiesOverhead racks
Other facilitiesKavach
Technical
Rolling stockMini Vande Bharat 2.0
Track gaugeIndian gauge
1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) broad gauge
Electrification25 kV 50 Hz AC Overhead line
Operating speed72 km/h (45 mph) (Avg.)
Average length192 metres (630 ft) (08 coaches)
Track owner(s)Indian Railways
Rake maintenanceMangaluru Central, Palakkad railway division

The initial service of this Vande Bharat Express train from Kasaragod to Thiruvananthapuram Central was inaugurated on 24 September 2023 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi via video conference from New Delhi.[2] The extension of train from Kasaragod to Mangaluru was inaugurated on 12 March 2024 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi via video conference from Ahmedabad. [3][4][5]

Overview

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This train is operated by Indian Railways, connecting Mangaluru Ctrl, Kasaragod, Kannur, Kozhikode, Tirur, Shoranur Junction, Thrissur, Ernakulam Junction, Alappuzha, Kollam Junction and Thiruvananthapuram Central. It is the second Vande Bharat Express train allocated to Kerala. It is currently operated with train numbers 20631/20632. [6][7][8]

Rakes

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It is the thirty-first 2nd Generation and nineteenth Mini Vande Bharat 2.0 Express train[broken anchor] which was designed and manufactured by the Integral Coach Factory at Perambur, Chennai under the Make in India Initiative.[9][10] It is India's first Mini VB 2.0 Express train[broken anchor], running the tracks with the Saffron-Grey livery with 25 more modifications in the rakes.[11][12] As per reports, a pairing train rake is allocated as there are a few problems in the maintenance of the train as per the current Time Table.[13] After extension till Mangalore, the maintenance problem has been resolved and the Saffron Grey rakes are swapped and replaced with White Blue Vandebharat rake of the pairing train. In August 2024, the Saffron Grey rake was made to run as temporary special service along Ernakulam - SMVT Bengaluru route. As of September 2024, the first saffron colored Vande Bharat rake is moved to Howrah - Rourkela route and the Mangaluru Central–Thiruvananthapuram Vande Bharat Express is running with one and only White Blue 8 car coach.

Service

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The 20631/20632 Mangaluru Central - Thiruvananthapuram Vande Bharat Express operates six days a week except wednesday, covering a distance of 621 km (386 mi) in a travel time of 8 hrs 40 mins with an average speed of 73 km/h (45 mph). The Maximum Permissible Speed is 100 km/h (62 mph).

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See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Except Wednesdays

References

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  1. ^ Bureau, The Hindu (12 March 2024). "PM launches Vande Bharat train service between Mangaluru and Thiruvananthapuram". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 12 March 2024. {{cite news}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  2. ^ "Kerala's second Vande Bharat to operate between Kasaragod and TVM via Alappuzha from Sept 24". OnManorama. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
  3. ^ "PM Modi virtually flags off extended Mangaluru-Thiruvananthapuram Vande Bharat Express". www.daijiworld.com. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
  4. ^ aishwarya.nair. "Kerala: PM Modi flags off extended Vande Bharat service from Mangaluru to Thiruvananthapuram". Asianet News Network Pvt Ltd. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
  5. ^ Bharathi, Vartha. "PM Modi Inaugurates Mangaluru Central-Thiruvananthapuram Vande Bharat Express Train". english.varthabharati.in. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
  6. ^ "Kasaragod-Thiruvananthapuram Vande Bharat Express". News9live. 12 March 2024. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
  7. ^ "Extended Vande Bharat flagged off by PM Modi". English.Mathrubhumi. 12 March 2024. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
  8. ^ "കേരളത്തിന്റെ രണ്ടാം വന്ദേഭാരത്: സമയക്രമമായി, ഞായറാഴ്ച സർവീസ് ആരംഭിച്ചേക്കും". Mathrubhumi. 19 September 2023. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
  9. ^ "Train 18, India's Fastest, Named "Vande Bharat Express": Piyush Goyal". NDTV.com. Retrieved 19 April 2023.
  10. ^ "Kerala's second Vande Bharat: ഇനി വൈകില്ല കേരളത്തിന്റെ രണ്ടാം വന്ദേഭാരത്; റൂട്ടും സമയക്രമവും തയ്യാര്‍". India Today Malayalam (in Malayalam). Retrieved 20 September 2023.
  11. ^ "Kerala's second Vande Bharat train to start from Kasaragod to Thiruvananthapuram". Global Green News. 22 September 2023. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
  12. ^ "Indias 1st Saffron Coloured Kasaragod-Thiruvananthapuram Vande Bharat Express Flagged Off". Zee News. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
  13. ^ "കേരളത്തിന് മൂന്നാമത്തെ വന്ദേഭാരത് റേക്ക്; വെള്ളയും നീലയും നിറം".