Ganga Kaveri Express

Ganga Kaveri Express

Ganga Kaveri Express Route Map
Overview
Service type	Superfast
Locale	Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana State,Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar
First service	1 January 1984
Current operator(s)	Southern Railway
Route
Start	Chennai Central
End	Chhapra
Distance travelled	2,341 km (1,455 mi)
Average journey time	42 hrs
Service frequency	Bi-weekly
Train number(s)	12669/ 12670
On-board services
Class(es)	1 AC-1, 3 AC 2 Tier, 3 AC 3 Tier, 12 Sleeper Class, 2 Unreserved, 1 Pantry Car.
Seating arrangements	Yes
Sleeping arrangements	Yes
Catering facilities	Yes
Technical
Operating speed	55 Km/hr (Average)

Ganga Kaveri Express is a Bi-weekly Superfast train service operated by Indian Railways, connecting Chennai in Southern India to Chhapra in Bihar. Inaugurated on 16 February 1977 by Kamalpati Tripathi, between Madras (now Chennai) and Varanasi, was terminating at Chennai Beach Station, from where MG Ganga Kaveri Express used to run to Rameswaram through the Kaveri river basin.

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 Southern states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu).

The Superfast service of Train Number 139/140 started its service to Varanasi from Madras Beach station, from the opposite Platform where an MG Ganga Kaveri Express used to run to Rameswaram since 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) as an Express and connection with Madras - Rameswaram Exp removed and name changed from Ganga Kaveri Exp to Madras - Varanasi Express. Thus increased halts at Katni, Pipariya, Betul and Sirpur Kaghaznagar, converted from one-night to two-nights train, slowed down by more than 3 hours, Green and Yellow colored Rakes withdrawn and AC sleeper service introduced. Later, in 90's Jaffer Sharief introduced the train which is running currently as Ganga Kaveri Express for the benefit of South Indian tourists, willing to travel to holy city of Varanasi. This train was extended to Chhapra in December 2006 despite a stiff opposition from the Local South Indians in Varanasi, who alleged that quota may be reduced for Varanasi bound passengers.