View source for Amritha Express

{{short description|Train in India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2016}}
{{more citations needed|date=September 2022}}
{{Infobox rail service
| name = Amritha Express
| color= D4AF37
| image= Amritha Express (as of May '22).jpg
| image_width =480px 
| caption = Madurai Junction Thiruvananthapuram Central Amritha Express 
| type =Express 
| locale =Tamilnadu & Kerala 
| first = {{start date and age|df=yes|2001|01|01}}
| last =
| operator = [[Indian Railways]]
| ridership =
| start = {{stnlnk|Trivandrum Central}}
| stops = 22
| end = {{stnlnk|Madurai Junction}}
| distance = {{convert|617|km|abbr=on}}
| journeytime = 15 hours 45 minutes
| frequency = Daily
| class = AC First Class, AC Two Tier, AC Three Tier, Sleeper class, General Unreserved. 
| seating = Yes
| sleeping = Yes
| autorack =Yes 
| catering = No
| observation = Large windows
| entertainment =No 
| baggage =Under Seat 
| otherfacilities=-
| stock = [[ICF coach]] pulled by [[WAP-4]] from [[Electric Loco Shed, Vijayawada]] or from [[Electric Loco Shed, Arakkonam]]
| gauge = {{track gauge|1676mm}}
| el =100% 
| trainnumber = 16343 / 16344
| speed ={{convert|35|km/h|abbr=on}} average with halts
| map = Amritha Express Route 
| map_state =
}}

'''''Amritha Express''''' is an overnight [[express trains in India|express train]] operated by the [[Southern Railway zone]] of the [[Indian Railways]] between {{stnlnk|Thiruvananthapuram Central}} in [[Kerala]], and [[Madurai Junction]] in [[Tamil Nadu]]. This train is approved for extension upto [[Rameswaram]] via Manamadurai, Paramakkudi and Ramanathapuram. At first, it was extended from Palakkad to Palakkad Town, then later extended upto Pollachi, then again extended to Madurai. And now for the fourth time it’s approved for extension to Rameswaram. This train marks as the first direct connectivity train to Palani & Rameswaram from Kerala. Also from Trivandrum to Dindigul there’s no direct train service to Rameswaram. Therefore this train will be a greatest benefit for the passengers enroute.

==Background==
{{unreferenced section|date=September 2024}}
It was introduced in January 2001 by the then Railway Minister [[O. Rajagopal]], from {{stnlnk|Thiruvananthapuram Central}} to {{stnlnk|Palakkad Town}}. This train is named after [[Mata Amritanandamayi]], a well known [[Clergy|spiritual leader]]. At first, the train used to run between Thiruvananthapuram Central to Palakkad, then extended up to [[Pollachi]] later extended to {{stnlnk|Madurai Junction}}. It starts from Thiruvananthapuram Central, runs via {{stnlnk|Kollam Junction}}, {{stnlnk|Kayamkulam Junction}}, {{stnlnk|Tiruvalla}}, {{stnlnk|Changanasseri}}, {{stnlnk|Kottayam}}, {{stnlnk|Ernakulam Town}}, {{stnlnk|Aluva}}, {{stnlnk|Thrissur}}, {{stnlnk|Ottapalam}}, {{stnlnk|Palakkad Junction}}, 
{{stnlnk|Palakkad Town}},
{{stnlnk|Kollengode}}, {{stnlnk|Pollachi Junction}}, {{stnlnk|Udumalaipettai}}, {{stnlnk|Palani}}, {{stnlnk|Dindigul Junction}}, then reaches Madurai Junction the next day.

==History==
{{unreferenced section|date=September 2024}}
It was first introduced as {{stnlnk|Thiruvananthapuram Central}}–{{stnlnk|Palakkad Town}} Amritha Express, via {{stnlnk|Shoranur Junction}}. Later, from November 2015, it had been extended and operated as a special express between Palakkad Town and {{stnlnk|Pollachi Junction}}.

Then, from 1 November 2017, Amritha Express was extended to {{stnlnk|Madurai Junction}} with new stops at {{stnlnk|Kollengode}}, Pollachi, {{stnlnk|Udumalaipettai}}, {{stnlnk|Palani}}, {{stnlnk|Oddanchatram}} and {{stnlnk|Dindigul Junction}} by withdrawing stoppage at Shoranur Junction. Starting from 16 November 2011, at {{stnlnk|Shoranur Junction}}, eight coaches from {{stnlnk|Nilambur Road}} was linked with Amritha Express and ran as Thiruvananthapuram Central–Madurai Junction Amritha Express / Thiruvananthapuram Central–Nilambur Road [[Rajya Rani Express]]. On 5 May 2019, the link express from Nilambur Road was discontinued permanently, and both the trains ran as an independent train. Also Amritha Express was diverted to run via {{stnlnk|Palakkad Junction}}–{{stnlnk|Ottapalam}}–{{stnlnk|Thrissur}} instead of Palakkad Junction–Shoranur Junction–Ottapalam–Thrissur. Therefore, Amritha Express will not touch Shoranur Junction, instead it will bypass Shoranur Junction.

The link train Rajya Rani Express has got independent coaches and will run with new terminal from {{stnlnk|Kochuveli}} to Nilambur Road.

==Locomotive==
Starting from September 24, 2022, this train will be converted from ''Diesel locomotive'' journey to a fully complete ''Electric locomotive'' journey since the Palakkad-Dindigul line got completely electrified and CRS Inspection was successfully completed.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-09-22 |title=Railways to run trains via Pollachi, Dindigul from September 24 |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Coimbatore/railways-to-run-trains-via-pollachi-dindigul-from-september-24/article65922153.ece |access-date=2022-09-22 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |title=Frist<!--sic--> electrical train run with 16343Amritha Express leading with wap-4 Engine in udumalpet |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmlTKqiI778 |language=en |access-date=2022-09-24}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Syam |first=Megha |title=5482116-0: Change In Traction...!! End To End Ele 22651/MGR Chennai Central - Palakkad Junction SF Express (Via Palani) - Railway Enquiry |url=https://indiarailinfo.com/blog/post/5482116 |access-date=2022-09-25 |website=indiarailinfo.com}}</ref>

==Timings==
[[File:16344 Amritha Express.jpg|thumb|16344 Amritha Express standing in Palakkad Junction.]]
This train is a daily service train with the following departures and arrivals at some of these stations:-
{| class="wikitable sortable" width="65%" style="text-align: center;"
| colspan="6" align="center" style="background:#FFBA01;" |<span style="color:BLACK;">'''Thiruvananthapuram Central ↔ Madurai Junction'''</span>
|-
! colspan="2" |16343
! rowspan="2" |Station Name
! rowspan="2" |Station Code
! colspan="2" |16344
|-
!Arrival
!Departure
!Arrival
!Departure
|-
| -
|20:30
|[[Thiruvananthapuram Central railway station|Trivandrum Ctrl]]
|TVC
|04:55 
| -
|-
|21:30
|21:33
|[[Kollam Junction railway station|Kollam Junction]]
|QLN
|02:47
|02:50
|-
|22:38
|22:40
|[[Chengannur railway station|Chengannur]]
|CNGR
|01:41
|01:43
|-
|00:45
|00:50
|[[Ernakulam Town railway station|Ernakulam Town]]
*[[Edappally railway station|IDAPPALLY]]
|00:57
|00:59
|ERN
|23:53
|23:58
|-
|03:40
|04:10
|[[Palakkad Junction railway station|Palakkad Junction]]
|PGT
|20:30
|20:55
|-
|05:37
|05:40
|[[Pollachi Junction railway station|Pollachi Junction]]
|POY
|19:02
|19:05
|-
|06:42
|06:45
|[[Palani railway station|Palani]]
|PLNI
|17:55
|18:00
|-
|08:10
|08:15
|[[Dindigul Junction railway station|Dindigul Junction]]
|DG
|17:02
|17:05
|-
|10:00
| -
|[[Madurai Junction railway station|Madurai Junction]]
|MDU
| -
|15:45(return journey departure time )
|}

==Coach composition==

*1 First class Ac 
* 1 AC Two Tier,
* 2 AC Three Tier,
* 14 Sleeper class,
* 3 General Unreserved,
* 2 Luggage cum Disabled coach.
The Train Has Rake Sharing With Boat Mail  Effect From 2025 April 14.
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders unsortable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:#007F0E;" | Loco
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:yellow;" | 1
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:orange;" | 2
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:orange;" | 3
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:crimson;" | 4
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:crimson;" | 5
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:crimson;" | 6
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:crimson;" | 7
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:crimson;" | 8
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:crimson;" | 9
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:crimson;" | 10
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:crimson;" | 11
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:crimson;" | 12
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:crimson;" | 13
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:crimson;"| 14
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:crimson;" | 15
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:crimson;" | 16
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:crimson;" | 17
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:#00FFFF;" | 18
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:#00FFFF;" | 19
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:lightskyblue;" | 20
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:orange;" | 21
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:yellow;" | 22
|-
|[[File:BSicon_LDER.svg|25x25px]]|| SLR|| UR || UR || S1 || S2 || S3 || S4 || S5 || S6 || S7 || S8 || S9 || S10 || S11 || S12 || S13 || S14 || B1 || B2 || A1 |H1 | UR || SLR
|-
|}

==References==

{{reflist}}

==External links==

{{Express trains running through Kerala}}
{{Railways in Southern India}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Amritha Express}}
[[Category:Transport in Thiruvananthapuram]]
[[Category:Named passenger trains of India]]
[[Category:Express trains in India]]
[[Category:Rail transport in Kerala]]
[[Category:Railway services introduced in 2001]]