Dhanbad–Alappuzha Express
Train in India
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The 13351 / 13352 Dhanbad–Alappuzha Bokaro Express is an Express train belonging to East Central Railway zone that runs between Dhanbad Junction and Alappuzha in India. It is currently being operated with 13351/13352 train numbers on a daily basis, earlier it runs between Bokaro and Chennai so it was named as Bokaro-Madrass express .[1][2][3]
Dhanbad-Alappuzha Bokaro Express train board. | |||||
| Overview | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service type | Express | ||||
| Status | Operating | ||||
| Locale | Kerala, Tamilnadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha | ||||
| First service | 1 April 1966 | ||||
| Current operator | East Central Railway | ||||
| Route | |||||
| Termini | Dhanbad Junction (DHN) Alappuzha (ALLP) | ||||
| Stops | 85 | ||||
| Distance travelled | 2,530 km (1,572 mi) | ||||
| Average journey time | 51h 40m | ||||
| Service frequency | Daily [a] | ||||
| Train number | 13351 / 13352 | ||||
| On-board services | |||||
| Classes | AC first, AC 2 tier, AC 3 tier, Sleeper class, General Unreserved | ||||
| Seating arrangements | Yes | ||||
| Sleeping arrangements | Yes | ||||
| Catering facilities | On-board catering E-catering Pantry Car | ||||
| Observation facilities | Large windows | ||||
| Entertainment facilities | Wide Windows | ||||
| Baggage facilities | Available | ||||
| Other facilities | Below the seats | ||||
| Technical | |||||
| Rolling stock | LHB coach | ||||
| Track gauge | 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) | ||||
| Electrification | 110 kv 50 Hertz | ||||
| Operating speed | 49 km/h (30 mph) average including halts | ||||
| |||||
_and_(Tatanagar_-_Alappuzha)_Link_Route_map.png)
Service
The 13351/Dhanbad–Alappuzha Express has an average speed of 45 km/h and covers 2546 km in 57h. The 13352/Alappuzha–Dhanbad Express has an average speed of 46 km/h and covers 2546 km in 55h 30m. From April first 2019 the train will not touch Shornur Junction, pass through link line and will halt at Ottappalam and Wadakkanchery in both directions.
History of the Train
The train was originally introduced in 1970 as the TATA–Madras service. In 1975, it was extended up to Bokaro. Later, in 1981, the service was reorganised into two separate trains — the TATA–Madras and a new Bokaro–Madras service via Ranchi, with both trains operating in coordination up to Rourkela.
During the 1991–92 Railway Budget, the TATA / Bokaro–Madras service was further extended up to Alappuzha (ALLP). Subsequently, in the 2003–04 Railway Budget, approval was granted to extend the Bokaro–Alappuzha service up to Dhanbad, thereby enhancing connectivity to the coalfield region.
The extension of the train up to Dhanbad was primarily undertaken due to maintenance and operational constraints, as Bokaro faced limitations in providing adequate maintenance facilities for the rake.
In the post-COVID operational period, rake linking with the Tatanagar–Alappuzha Express was discontinued, following which both services began operating independently in terms of scheduling and rake management.
Route and halts
The important halts of the train are:
- Dhanbad Junction
- Katrasgarh
- Chandrapura Junction
- Bokaro Steel City
- Kotshila Junction
- Jhalida
- Muri Junction
- Ranchi Junction
- Hatia
- Govindpur Road
- Bano
- Nuagaon
- Bondamunda
- Rourkela Junction
- Rajgangpur
- Bamra
- Jharsuguda Junction
- Rengali
- Sambalpur Junction
- Attabira
- Bargarh Road
- Barpali
- Balangir junction
- Titlagarh Junction
- Kesinga
- Muniguda
- Rayagada
- Parvathipuram Town
- Parvathipuram
- Bobbili Junction
- Vizianagaram Junction
- Kottavalasa Junction
- Somhachalam
- Visakhapatnam Junction
- Duvvada
- Anakapalle
- Elamanchili
- Narsipatnam Road
- Tuni
- Annavaram
- Pithapuram
- Samarlkota Junction
- Anaparti
- Dwarapudi
- Rajahmundry
- Nidadavolu Junction
- Tadepalligudem
- Eluru
- Vijayawada Junction
- Tenali Junction
- Nidubrolu
- Bapatla
- Chirala
- Ongole
- Singarayakonda
- Kavali
- Nellore
- Nayudupeta
- Sullurupeta
- MGR Chennai Central
- Tiruvallur
- Arakkonam Junction
- Katpadi Junction
- Jolapettai
- Tirupattur Junction
- Samalpatti
- Bommidi
- Salem Junction
- Erode Junction
- Tiruppur
- Coimbatore Junction
- Palakkad Junction
- Ottappalam
- Wadakancheri
- Thrissur
- Aluva
- Ernakulam Junction
- Turavur
- Cherthala
- Mararikulam
- Alappuzha
Coach composition
Direction reversal
The train reverses its direction two times:
Rakes
The train has six dedicated rakes. It ran as link train with 18189/18190 Tatanagar–Alappuzha Express but was discontinued when Indian Railways started phasing out link services.
See also
- Alappuzha railway station
- Dhanbad Junction railway station
- Dibrugarh–Kanyakumari Vivek Express
- Ernakulam–Patna Express (via Chennai)
- Ernakulam–Patna Express (via Tirupati)
Notes
- Runs seven days in a week for every direction.
