Venad Express

The Venad Express is an Express train that runs daily between Shoranur Junction and Trivandrum Central via Kottayam.[1] The train's numbers are 16301 (from Shoranur Junction to Trivandrum Central)[2] and 16302 (from Trivandrum Central to Shoranur Junction).[3]

Venad Express
Overview
Current operator(s)Indian Railways
Route
StartShoranur
Stops29
EndTrivandrum Central
Distance travelled327 km (203 mi)
Average journey time7 hours 50 minutes
Service frequencyDaily
Train number(s)16301 / 16302
On-board services
Class(es)AC Chair Car, Second Sitting, General Unreserved
Seating arrangementsYes
Catering facilitiesYes
Observation facilitiesLarge windows
Technical
Rolling stockLHB coaches
Track gauge1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in)
Route map

History

The Venad Express is one of the oldest daily intercity trains in Kerala, as well as one of the most popular trains to travel between Trivandrum (the state capital) and Ernakulam (Kochi). The Express was introduced in 1972 by Southern Railways.[4] It travelled the 1,000 mm (3 ft 3 3⁄8 in) metre gauge track between Trivandrum Central and Ernakulam. Diesel engines were used to power the train. The train initially had a green livery.[5] In 1976, Indian Railways converted the tracks to broad gauge.[6] In the 1980s, Indian Railways introduced double-decker coaches for the Venad Express. However, the company later withdrew the double-decker compartments due to operational issues.

In 2020, the route of the Venad Express was extended to Shoranur.[7] Before its route extension, the train left Trivandrum Central at 05:30 and reached Ernakulam Junction at 09:30. On the return direction, the train left Ernakulam Junction at 05:15 and reached Trivandrum Central by 09:30.

Name

The name Venad comes from the dynasty of Venad Swarupam, which ruled over Quilon (Kollam). The Trivandrum Division of Southern Railway Zone set a precedent on International Women's Day, March 8, 2020, when it ran the Venad Express with an all-female crew[8] from Ernakulam Junction to Shoranur Junction. This was the first time in Kerala's history that an express train was operated by all-female crew.[9]

Frequency

This Venad Express runs daily. Train number 16301 departs Shoranur Junction at 14:25 and reaches Trivandrum Central at 22:20. Train number 16302 departs from Trivandrum Central at 05:00 and reaches Shoranur Junction at 12:45.[10] It covers a distance of 327 kilometers (203 mi.) in each direction, and takes 7 hours and 50 minutes to go from end to end.

The Venad Express links major commercial hubs within Kerala, including Thrissur, Aluva, Ernakulam, Kottayam, Tiruvalla, Kayamkulam, Kollam, Varkala, and Kochuveli with Trivandrum.

Coach composition

The train's rake contains 16 unreserved coaches, 2 reserved coaches, an AC chair car coach, a pantry car and 2 EOG (End on Generation) coach cars for a total of 22 coaches. The train was allotted LHB coaches starting in November 2019.[11]

Advance reservation is available only in three compartments. Seats can be reserved through the IRCTC website or from the railway station. Other coaches can be boarded with an unreserved ticket.

Rake/Coach composition
LOCO EOG UR UR UR UR UR UR UR UR UR UR UR UR D2 D1 C1 PC UR UR UR UR EOG

EOG – End on Generator

UR – Unreserved

D – Second Sitting

C – AC Chair Car

PC – Pantry Car

See also

References
  1. "Venad Express (16302) – Train from Trivandrum Central to Shoranur Junction |Cleartrip". www.cleartrip.com. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
  2. "Book cab, bus, train tickets and food at best deals with RailYatri app". www.railyatri.in. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
  3. Shandilya, Tushar. "16302/Venad Express – Kottayam to Shoranur SR/Southern Zone – Railway Enquiry". India Rail Info. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
  4. "Running train status of Venad Express | 16301 – Track & Spot your Train – TravelKhana.Com". www.travelkhana.com. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
  5. "Intercities in Kerala - History and degradation [2004-02-29] by Jimmy Jose — IRFCA.org". IRFCA. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
  6. Jose, Jimmy (28 November 2005). "Quilon". IRFCA. Diesel Era In Quilon.
  7. "Venad Express to be extended till Shoranur". The Hindu. Special Correspondent. 1 October 2020. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 22 November 2020.CS1 maint: others (link)
  8. Mar 9, TNN /; 2020; Ist, 04:53. "All-women crew operates train | Kochi News-Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 10 November 2020.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  9. Special Correspondent, The Hindu Newspaper (9 March 2020). "Venad Express operates with all-women crew". The Hindu. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
  10. "Venad Express/16302 Time Table/Schedule: Trivandrum to Shoranur SR/Southern Zone – Railway Enquiry". India Rail Info. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
  11. "(16301) Venad Express Train Schedule | Coach Position | Train Route. – eRailway.co.in". erailway.co.in. Retrieved 8 January 2021.


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