Rockfort Superfast Express
The Rockfort Superfast Express is a Superfast overnight Express rail connecting Tiruchirappalli with Chennai Egmore via Villupuram in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. This train serves as the main connectivity to the state capital for Tiruchirappalli city and the town of Tiruchirappalli District along the route.
 Rockfort Express arriving at Trichy | |||||
| Overview | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service type | Superfast Express | ||||
| Status | Active | ||||
| Locale | Tamil Nadu | ||||
| First service | 1 August 1972[1] | ||||
| Current operator(s) | Southern Railway zone | ||||
| Route | |||||
| Start | Tiruchchirappalli Junction (TPJ) | ||||
| Stops | 14 | ||||
| End | Chennai Egmore (MS) | ||||
| Distance travelled | 336 km (209 mi) | ||||
| Average journey time | 05:30 hours | ||||
| Service frequency | Daily each way | ||||
| Train number(s) | 12653/12654 (Old numbers 177/178, 6177/6178, 6877/6878, 16177/16178) | ||||
| Line(s) used | Chord line | ||||
| On-board services | |||||
| Class(es) | 1A, 2A, 3A, SL, GS | ||||
| Disabled access | Available | ||||
| Seating arrangements | No | ||||
| Sleeping arrangements | Couchette car | ||||
| Catering facilities | No | ||||
| Entertainment facilities | No | ||||
| Baggage facilities | Overhead racks Baggage carriage | ||||
| Technical | |||||
| Rolling stock | RPM/WAP-7 , ED/WAP-4 , AJJ/WAP-4 1 AC First Class 3 AC Two-tier 5 AC Three-tier 09 II SL 3 UR/GS 2 EOG | ||||
| Track gauge | 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) | ||||
| Electrification | 25 kV AC, 50 Hz | ||||
| Operating speed | Average 61 kmphr ; Max Speed 110 kmph | ||||
| Track owner(s) | Southern Railway zone | ||||
| Timetable number(s) | 21/21A[2] | ||||
| |||||
Background and Relevance
The eponymous train is named after the famous 12th-century fortress Rockfort temple in the heart of Tiruchirapalli. The train originally ran between Madras Egmore and Tiruchirappalli Junction on the 'Chord Line'. Later, when the 'Main Line' was closed for operations to facilitate gauge conversion projects, a part of this train was extended to Thanjavur Junction as Rockfort Link Express (6177A/ 6178A). It was further extended to Kumbakonam during the Mahamaham festival. The extended run was truncated effective September 2013. The entire formation now runs up to Tiruchirappalli Junction. Converted as Superfast Express from 08.06.2017 & Renumbered as (12653/12654).
This train originally had a signal-green livery, with a yellow stripe along the upper and lower part of windows. It later was changed to the standard VB Maroon-livery when it was run on the MG. On BG it ran with the Conventional ICF coaches and later it is converted to LHB rake.
Rakes
The Rockfort Superfast Express is one of the very few trains in the Indian Railways to have coaches of all the six classes of Indian Railway. It was running with 23 LHB coaches including an AC First Class, AC 2-Tier, First class, AC 3-tier, Sleeper Class and General Sitting compartments. First Class coaches were removed in May 2014, as per railway policy. New LHB (Linke Hofmann Busch) coaches has been allotted for this train. The train runs with LHB coaches from 26 September 2016, due to this the Composition of the train has been changed to accommodate Generator cars with 22 coaches. Later due to greater demand of Unreserved coaches additional GS was added and now running with 23 coaches, making it one of few LHB trains to run with 23 coaches. The train usually runs to full capacity.[lower-alpha 1]
| Loco | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | EOG | GS | GS | S9 | S8 | S7 | S6 | S5 | S4 | S3 | S2 | S1 | B5 | B4 | B3 | B2 | B1 | A3 | A2 | A1 | H1 | GS | EOG |
The Coaches have RSA with Pandian Superfast Express and Cholan Express
Schedule
The train numbered 12654 departs from Trichy Junction at 22:45 (10:45 PM IST) Hours and arrives Viluppuram Junction by 01:25 AM IST Hours and reaches Chennai Egmore at 04:15 AM IST Hours the next day.
The pairing train numbered 12653 starts at 23:15 (11:15 PM IST) Hours from Chennai Egmore and arrives Viluppuram Junction by 01:35 AM IST and reaches Trichy Junction at 04:45 hours the next day.[lower-alpha 2]
Maintenance
The Primary Maintenance of the coaches are managed at SSE/C&W/MDU, there is no Secondary maintenance required.
See also
Notes
- The coach composition is subject to change.
- The timings are in Indian Standard Time.
References
- "Old time table of SR - 1977". IR Southern Zone - Discussion. Retrieved 20 December 2013.
- "Trains at a Glance July 2013 - June 2014". Indian Railways. Retrieved 19 December 2013.