Rameswaram–Tirupathi Meenakshi Express

Rameswaram - Tirupathi Meenakshi Express
	Rameswaram - Tirupathi Meenakshi Express at Tiruchchirappalli Junction
Overview
Service type	Express
Locale	Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh
First service	1 April 2011; 13 years ago
Current operator(s)	Indian Railways
Ridership	Mail/Express
Route
Termini	Rameswaram; Tirupati Main
Stops	17
Distance travelled	808 km (502 mi)
Average journey time	16 Hrs 00 Min
Service frequency	Tri–weekly
Train number(s)	16779/16780
On-board services
Class(es)	3 Third AC; 9 Sleeper; 4 Unreserved; 2 SLRD;
Disabled access
Seating arrangements	Yes
Sleeping arrangements	Yes
Auto-rack arrangements	No
Catering facilities	E-Catering
Observation facilities	Large windows
Baggage facilities	Over Head Rakes
Technical
Rolling stock	RMM - MDU : WDG-3A,WDM-3A Locomotive from Diesel Loco Shed, Golden Rock; MDU - TPTY : WAP-4 Locomotive from Electric Loco Shed, Arakkonam, Erode;
Track gauge	1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in)
Electrification	25 kV AC, 50 Hz ( High Voltage Traction)
Operating speed	54 km/h (34 mph) average with halts
Average length	18 Coaches
Track owner(s)	Indian Railways
Timetable number(s)	21/21A
Rake maintenance	Rameswaram
Rake sharing	Rameswaram-Kanniyakumari Superfast Express
Route map
Route map

Rameswaram–Tirupati Express connects Holy Island Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu with Holy City Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh. This train covers a total distance of about 808 kilometres (502 mi). This train is also called as Meenakshi Express as it travels via Temple City of Madurai. The train goes via Madurai, Tiruchchirappalli, Thanjavur, Mayiladuthurai, Viluppuram, Tiruvannamalai, Vellore and Katpadi. It recently runs with refurbished Utkrist coaches.

Traction[edit]

It runs 3 days in a week from Tirupati. It starts on Sunday, Tuesday, Friday and from Rameswaram it starts from Monday, Thursday, Saturday.

16779 / 16780 runs at average speed of 54 km/h and covers 808 km. It connects some major stations like Ramanathapuram, Madurai, Dindigul, Tiruchchirappalli, Thanjavur, Mayiladuthurai, Villupuram, Tiruvannamalai, Vellore and Katpadi

Loco	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18
	SLRD	UR	UR	B1	B2	B3	S1	S2	S3	S4	S5	S6	S7	S8	S9	UR	UR	SLRD

16779 - Rameswaram → Tirupathi ~ Meenakshi Express
Station/Junction Name	Station Code	Arrival	Departure	Day
Tirupathi	SOURCE	TPTY	11:55	1
Pakala Junction	PAK	12:29	12:30	1
Katpadi Junction	KPD	14:10	14:15	1
Vellore Cantonment	VLR	14:43	14:45	1
Tiruvannamalai	TNM	15:58	16:00	1
Villupuram Junction	VM	17:50	17:55	1
Thirupathiripuliyur	TDPR	18:32	18:33	1
Chidambaram	CDM	19:15	19:17	1
Sirkazhi	SY	19:33	19:34	1
Mayiladuthurai Junction	MV	20:18	20:20	1
Kumbakonam	KMU	20:58	21:00	1
Thanjavur Junction	TJ	21:58	22:00	1
Tiruchchirappalli Junction	TPJ	23:05	23:10	1
Dindigul Junction	DG	00:20	00:25	2
Madurai Junction	MDU	01:35	01:40	2
Manamadurai	MNM	02:35	02:40	2
Paramakkudi	PMK	03:03	03:05	2
Ramanathapuram	RMD	03:28	03:30	2
Mandapam	MMM	03:55	03:57	2
Rameswaram	RMM	04:55	DEST	2
16780 - Rameswaram → Tirupathi ~ Meenakshi Express
Rameswaram	RMM	SOURCE	16:30	1
Mandapam	MMM	16:55	16:57	1
Ramanathapuram	RMD	17:23	17:25	1
Paramakkudi	PMK	17:48	17:50	1
Manamadurai	MNM	18:15	18:20	1
Madurai Junction	MDU	19:25	19:30	1
Kodaikkanal Road	KQN	20:03	20:05	1
Dindigul Junction	DG	20:55	21:00	1
Tiruchchirappalli Junction	TPJ	22:15	22:20	1
Thanjavur Junction	TJ	23:05	23:07	1
Kumbakonam	KMU	23:40	23:42	1
Mayiladuthurai Junction	MV	00:23	00:25	2
Sirkazhi	SY	00:47	00:48	2
Chidambaram	CDM	00:58	01:00	2
Thirupathiripuliyur	TDPR	01:49	01:50	1
Villupuram Junction	VM	03:05	03:10	2
Tiruvannamalai	TNM	04:18	04:20	2
Vellore Cantonment	VLR	06:25	06:27	2
Katpadi Junction	KPD	07:35	07:45	2
Pakala Junction	PAK	08:59	09:00	2
Tirupathi	TPTY	10:10	DEST	2