Malabar Express

Malabar Express
Overview
Service type	Express
Locale	Kerala & Karnataka
Current operator(s)	Southern Railways
Route
Start	Mangalore Central (MAQ)
Stops	52
End	Thiruvananthapuram Central (TVC)
Distance travelled	634 km (394 mi)
Average journey time	14 hours 50 minutes
Service frequency	Daily
Train number(s)	16629 / 16630
On-board services
Class(es)	AC 3 tier, AC 2 tier, Sleeper Class, General Unreserved
Seating arrangements	Yes
Sleeping arrangements	Yes
Catering facilities	On-board Catering ; E-Catering
Observation facilities	Large windows
Technical
Rolling stock	ICF Coaches
Track gauge	1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in)
Operating speed	41 km/h (25 mph) average including halts

The 16629 / 16630 Malabar Express is an express train service in India, named after the Malabar coast, the south-western coastal region of India from Mangalore Central to Thiruvananthapuram Central. As the name suggests, it connects the two ends of the Malabar region (the Southern and the Northern). The train has one of the longest running time between Mangalore and Thiruvananthapuram Central. It shares its rake with 16603/04 Maveli Express, 12601/02 Mangalore Central-Chennai Central Superfast Mail and 22637/38 West Coast Super Fast Express. Malabar Express is one of the most popular trains in Kerala.

History

The train initially ran between Madras and Mangalore. During that time the name of the train was Madras - Mangalore Malabar Express. In 1963 the train route was extended to Cochin Harbour Terminus and later this was again extended to Thiruvananthapuram Central.

Traction

As the route is fully electrified, it is hauled by a Royapuram based WAP 7 locomotive on its entire journey.

Service

This train runs between Mangalore Central and Thiruvananthapuram Central. The train no. 16629 starts from Trivandrum at 19:00 hours and reaches Mangalore at 10:10 hours the next day. In the return direction, train no. 16630 leaves Mangalore at 18:15 hours and reaches Trivandrum at 09:10 hours the next day. It runs via Trunk route Kottayam

Coach composition

It has 23 coaches (13 sleeper class, 4 3-tier AC (after the addition of BE1), 1 2-tier AC, 4 second class, and 1 brake van-cum-second sitter).

Route & Halts

This train major hault are:-