Coromandel Express

The 12841 / 12842 Coromandel Express is one of the flagship trains of the Indian Railways, which runs down the east coast of India between Howrah Junction (HWH) on Eastern Railways in Kolkata and Chennai Central (MAS) on daily basis. It is one of the earliest Superfast in the history of IR. Most of the people going to Chennai prefer this train as the train arrives earlier than the Howrah Chennai Mail. The train runs jam packed throughout the year.

Coromandel Express
Coromandel Express skips Ammanabrolu (A.P.) with ED WAP-4.
Overview
Service typeSuperfast
LocaleWest Bengal, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu
First service6 March 1977 (1977-03-06)
Current operator(s)South Eastern Railways
Route
StartHowrah (HWH)
Stops14
EndChennai Central (MAS)
Distance travelled1,662 km (1,033 mi)
Average journey time26 hrs 10 mins
Service frequencyDaily
Train number(s)12841 / 12842
On-board services
Class(es)AC first, AC 2 tier, AC 3 tier, Pantry Car, Sleeper Class, General Unreserved
Seating arrangementsYes
Sleeping arrangementsYes
Auto-rack arrangementsAvailable
Catering facilitiesAvailable
Baggage facilitiesBelow the Seats
Technical
Rolling stockICF Coaches
Track gauge1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in)
Operating speed120 km/h (75 mph) maximum,
65 km/h (40 mph) average with halts
Route map

History

The land of the Chola dynasty was called Cholamandalam in Tamil, literally translated as “the realm of the Cholas”, from which Coromandel is derived. The Coromandel Coast is the name given to the southeastern coast of the Indian peninsula. The Eastern Coast of India along the Bay of Bengal is called the Coromandel Coast and hence the name was given to this train, as it traverses the entire length of the Coromandel coast. This train belongs to the South Eastern Railway zone, which means that primary responsibility of maintenance of this train lies with South Eastern Railways, which was earlier known as Bengal Nagpur Railways (BNR).

Route

The train is particularly famous for non-stop run between Vijayawada and Chennai, and it runs up to Visakhapatnam with two stops at Eluru and Rajamundry. The other stops are Brahmapur, Khurda Road, Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Bhadrak, Balasore and Kharagpur. Hence, it has five stops in Andhra Pradesh, seven in Odisha, two in West Bengal. When it was introduced in 1977, it was a bi-weekly train and it had stops only at Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam and Bhubaneswar and it used to bypass Cuttack and Khurda Road & Ongole were technical halts. It used to cover the journey that time in only 23 hrs 30 mins time. Timings that time were:- Howrah 17.15 hrs dep, Madras 16.45 hrs arrival next day. In return Madras 09.00 hrs dep, Howrah 08.30 hrs arr next day. Later many stops were introduced like Kharagpur, Balasore, Bhadrak, Khurda Road, Brahmapur, etc. which slowed down this train by up to 3 hours. It had a distinct livery when it was introduced in 1977. On an experimental basis additional stops at Tadepalligudem (TDD), Andhra Pradesh is introduced since 2015. Technical halt at Ongole is still present for pantry purpose.

This train is currently hauled by CLW manufactured WAP-7 class electric locomotives maintained by Electric Loco Shed Santragachi of South Eastern Railway from Howrah Junction to Visakhapatanam and Lallaguda or Royapuram based WAP-7 class electric locomotives to Chennai Central . These 5000 hp & 6350 hp locomotives are fit to run at 140 km/h but due to limitation of sectional speed, coromandel express runs at a maximum permissible speed of 120 km/h. Immediately after electrification, this train was hauled by Lallaguda based WAP-4 loco from Chennai to Howrah but due to difficulty and excessive time required to reverse loco at Visakhapatnam, subsequently it was decided to run it by Santragachi-based Loco from Howrah to Visakhapatnam and from Visakhapatnam to Chennai by Erode-based WAP-4. When Royapuram shed came up near Chennai, Royapuram based loco is utilized to haul it from Visakhapatnam to Chennai.

Prior to completion of electrification of east coast line, there was no alternative but to run this train by a single diesel WDM-4 (From Kharagpur Diesel Loco Shed) and later on double diesel locomotive. Reason for using two diesel locomotives was to run this 24 coach train at 110 km/h and this train has the permissible speed of 120 km/h. After electrification, single WAP-4 or WAP-7 electric locomotive is adequate. Thus there was straightway saving of one locomotive for Indian Railway. There was saving of time as well due faster acceleration.

In February 2009, the train derailed near Jajpur Keonjhar Road in which apart from other damages and casualties the Santragachi-based WAP-4 22330 locomotive got damaged beyond economical repair and therefore had to be condemned.

Since 2018 WAP-7, locomotive pulls the train from Visakhapatnam to Chennai and Chennai to Visakhapatnam. From Howrah to Visakhapatnam and Visakhapatnam to Howrah Santragachi-based WAP-7 locomotive pulls the train.

Speed

This train traverses the total distance of 1662 km in a total time of 26 hrs 10 mins with the maximum speed of 120 km/hr. It receives the highest priorities during its run from Howrah to Chennai.

Bridges

The train passes over some important rivers of India:

  1. Creek in Ennore near Chennai.
  2. Penna river in Nellore
  3. Paleru river in Ongole.
  4. Krishna river in Vijayawada.
  5. Godavari river in Rajahmundry.
  6. Nagavalli river in Srikakulam
  7. Vamsadhara river in Srikakulam
  8. Rushikulya river in Ganjam
  9. Mahanadi in Cuttack.
  10. Kathjori river (Mahanadi distributary) in Cuttack.
  11. Kuakhai river (Mahanadi distributary) near Barang.
  12. Birupa river (Mahanadi distributary) near Kendrapara.
  13. Brahmani river in Jenapur.
  14. Baitarani river in Jajpur Keonjhar Rd..
  15. Budhabalanga river in Balasore.
  16. Subarnarekha river in Rupsa.
  17. Rupnarayan river in Kolaghat near Mecheda.
  18. Damodar river near Bagnan.
  • Coromandal Express at Nalpur
  • Coromandal Express at Andhra Pradesh

Coach composition
Loco 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24
SLRURS1S2S3S4S5S6S7S8S9S10S11PCS12B1B2B3A1A2HA1URURSLR

The rake consists of 12 Sleepers, 6 AC Coaches (1AC, 2AC, 3AC), 1 Pantry car, 3 General sitting and 2 SLRs. This train shares its rakes with the Howrah Chennai Mail Since 2008. Thus a rake of the Coromandal Express consists of 24 coaches with Integral Coach Factory ICF Rakes.

Accidents and Incidents

On 15 March 2002, about seven bogies of the Howrah-Chennai Coromandel Express derailed around 2:40 pm at Padugupadu road over-bridge in Kovuru mandal in Nellore district, leaving as many as 100 passengers injured. The poor condition of the main rail track in Nellore district between Vijayawada and Chennai was suspected of being the cause of the accident.

On 13 February 2009 the train derailed near Jajpur Keonjhar Road about 100 km away from Bhubaneswar in Orissa killing at least 15 people and leaving several injured, some critically. The reason for the derailment is not known. A high level inquiry was ordered by the Railways following the incident. Hence after the accident the train when reaches Jajpur Keonjhar Road it decreases its speed until 1 km far from the station and far from the accident spot. Coromandel Express was moving at 115 km/h when the accident occurred. The average speed of the train is 65 km/h, though it can travel at 120 km/h.[1]

Six elephants including two calves were killed after being hit by Coromandel Express in Odisha's Ganjam district early on 30 December 2012. A bedroll attendant on the train also died in the accident, but the circumstances of his death were unclear.[2]

On 14 January 2012, a fire broke out in a general compartment of Chennai-Howrah Coromandel Express near Lingaraj railway station.

However, the flames were extinguished before they could spread. The fire was spotted in the coach, second from the engine, when the superfast express train was proceeding towards Bhubaneswar, a spokesman of East Coast Railway (ECoR) said.

No injury was caused to anyone as the fire brigade was called in immediately and the fire was controlled within 20 minutes. All those on board the superfast train are safe. Prompt steps prevented the fire from spreading. The affected compartment was detached at Bhubaneswar railway station as a precautionary measure and the train proceeded to its destination, the spokesman said.

Preliminary information indicated that the fire might have erupted due to carelessness of some travellers and an inquiry has been ordered into the incident, he added.

On 18 April 2015, the train caught fire at Nidadavolu Junction. Two of the bogies were damaged, said the report. No casualties were reported the during the incident.

References
  1. "Fifteen dead in India train accident". Retrieved 14 February 2009.
  2. "Six elephants run over by speeding train in Odisha". Retrieved 30 December 2012.
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