Amritha Express

Amritha Express is an overnight express train operated by the Southern Railway zone of the Indian Railways between Template:Stnlnk 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

It was introduced in January 2001 by the then Railway Minister O. Rajagopal, from Template:Stnlnk to Template:Stnlnk. This train is named after Mata Amritanandamayi, a well known spiritual leader. At first, the train used to run between Thiruvananthapuram Central to Palakkad, then extended up to Pollachi later extended to Template:Stnlnk. It starts from Thiruvananthapuram Central, runs via Template:Stnlnk, Template:Stnlnk, Template:Stnlnk, Template:Stnlnk, Template:Stnlnk, Template:Stnlnk, Template:Stnlnk, Template:Stnlnk, Template:Stnlnk, Template:Stnlnk, Template:Stnlnk, Template:Stnlnk, Template:Stnlnk, Template:Stnlnk, Template:Stnlnk, Template:Stnlnk, then reaches Madurai Junction the next day.

History

It was first introduced as Template:Stnlnk–Template:Stnlnk Amritha Express, via Template:Stnlnk. Later, from November 2015, it had been extended and operated as a special express between Palakkad Town and Template:Stnlnk.

Then, from 1 November 2017, Amritha Express was extended to Template:Stnlnk with new stops at Template:Stnlnk, Pollachi, Template:Stnlnk, Template:Stnlnk, Template:Stnlnk and Template:Stnlnk by withdrawing stoppage at Shoranur Junction. Starting from 16 November 2011, at Template:Stnlnk, eight coaches from Template:Stnlnk 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 Template:Stnlnk–Template:Stnlnk–Template:Stnlnk 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 Template:Stnlnk 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.

Timings

File:16344 Amritha Express.jpg

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:-

Thiruvananthapuram Central ↔ Madurai Junction
16343		Station Name	Station Code	16344
Arrival	Departure			Arrival	Departure
-	20:30	Trivandrum Ctrl	TVC	04:55	-
21:30	21:33	Kollam Junction	QLN	02:47	02:50
22:38	22:40	Chengannur	CNGR	01:41	01:43
00:45	00:50	Ernakulam Town IDAPPALLY	00:57	00:59	ERN	23:53	23:58
03:40	04:10	Palakkad Junction	PGT	20:30	20:55
05:37	05:40	Pollachi Junction	POY	19:02	19:05
06:42	06:45	Palani	PLNI	17:55	18:00
08:10	08:15	Dindigul Junction	DG	17:02	17:05
10:00	-	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.

Loco	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22
File:BSicon LDER.svg	SLR	UR	UR	S1	S2	S3	S4	S5	S6	S7	S8	S9	S10	S11	S12	S13	S14	B1	B2	H1 | UR	SLR