Venad Express
| Overview | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Current operator(s) | Indian Railway | ||||
| Route | |||||
| Start | Shoranur | ||||
| Stops | 29 | ||||
| End | Trivandrum Central | ||||
| Distance travelled | 327 km (203 mi) | ||||
| Average journey time | 7 hours 50 minutes | ||||
| Service frequency | Daily | ||||
| Train number(s) | 16301 / 16302 | ||||
| On-board services | |||||
| Class(es) | AC chair car, first class, second sitting | ||||
| Seating arrangements | Yes | ||||
| Catering facilities | Yes | ||||
| Observation facilities | Large windows | ||||
| Technical | |||||
| 7 | |||||
| Track gauge | 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) | ||||
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| Route map | |
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The Venad Express (Malayalam: വേണാട് എക്സ്പ്രസ്സ്) is an express train which runs daily between Shoranur Junction and Trivandrum Central via Kottayam. It is numbered 16301 (from Shoranur Junction to Trivandrum Central) and 16302 (from Trivandrum Central to Shoranur Junction).
Venad Express was introduced in 1972 by Southern Railways. The train used the 1,000 mm (3 ft 3 3⁄8 in) metre gauge track between Trivandrum Central and Ernakulam. It was hauled by diesel engines. The train from Trivandrum Central started at 5.30 am and reached Ernakulam Junction by 9.30 am. On the return direction the train leaves Ernakulam Junction at 17:15pm and reached Trivandrum Central by 21:30 pm. In 1976 the tracks were converted to broad gauge and the broad gauge train was introduced. The train had a green livery initially. The train was later extended to Shoranur after some years and timings were also revised. Venad Express is one of the oldest daily Intercity trains in Kerala and one of the most popular trains to travel between Trivandrum, the state capital, and Ernakulam (Kochi), the most cosmopolitan city in the state. In the 1980s Indian Railways introduced double-decker coaches for the Venad Express. But railways later withdrew the double decker compartments due to operational issues.
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