Title - Chennai – Thiruvananthapuram AC Duronto, Kollam MEMU to Run Soon!

Finally! 2 years after it was announced in the 2011 - 2012 Railway Budget, the infinitely long-awaited Bi-Weekly Chennai - Trivandrum - Chennai AC Duronto Express (22207/22208)  and the 66304/66305 Kollam - Thiruvananthapuram - Nagercoil Jn MEMU passenger train will start running from within 7 to 10 days (Exact date will be announced in a couple of days), as per a press release by the Railway Ministry. The Duronto will be flagged off from Chennai and the MEMU will be flagged off from Kollam.

Trivandrum will get its first Duronto and first MEMU. The Duronto will become the 5th train connecting the two Southern state capitals. It was supposed to be launched almost a year back, but was infinitely delayed due to unavailability of rakes (coaches), given the state Indian Railways are in. In Southern Railways, also will be launched the bi-Weekly 22206/22207 Chennai - Madurai AC Duronto which will be the second Duronto Express running entirely within Tamil Nadu. Both the new Durontos will share the same rake and will be completely Reserved, Air Conditioned, Non-Stop services. There will be no General Coaches or Sleeper Class in these AC Durontos.

The MEMU rakes were available and had reached Palakkad long back, but partly due to apathy from TVC division (as reported here by the Indian Express) and partly because electrification of the TVC - NCJ - CAPE section was not complete and mainly because the MEMU shed at Kollam was not constructed, start of the MEMU service stretched infinitely. The TVC - QLN stretch is one of the most crowded commuter routes in Kerala, both on road and rail. But finally after much trepidation  the MEMU will start running, though the shed is still not ready. In case of any complaints, the rake will have to go to Palakkad for repairs.

DETAILS OF NEW TRAINS IN SOUTHERN RAILWAY FOR KERALA

22207 Chennai - Thiruvananthapuram AC Duronto Express

Days of Service - Tuesday, Friday
Departure time from Chennai - 1630 every Tuesday and Friday
Arrival Time at Trivandrum - 0515 every Wednesday and Saturday
Running Time: 12 hours 45 minutes
Stops - NONE (Nonstop) Service halts at ED and ERS
22208 Thiruvananthapuram - Chennai AC Duronto Express
Days of Service - Wednesday, Saturday
Departure time from Chennai - 2140 every Wednesday and Saturday
Arrival Time at Trivandrum - 1015 every Wednesday and Saturday
Running Time: 12 hours 50 minutes
Stops - NONE (Nonstop) Service halts at ERS and ED
Composition - 1 AC First Class, 3 AC 2 Tier, 9 AC 3 Tier, 2 Generator Cars

Distance Travelled (Chennai - Thiruvananthapuram) - 922 km

Route of the Train - Katpadi, Salem, Podanur (CBE bypass), Palakkad, Ernakulam Jn, Alappuzha, Kollam (But does not stop anywhere)

66304 Kollam - Nagercoil Jn MEMU

Days of Service - All days a week except Sunday (6 days)
Departure time from Kollam - 1100
Arrival/Departure Time at Trivandrum -
Arrival Time at Nagercoil - 1530
Running Time:
Stops - All stations enroute for 1 minute, TVC 5 minutes.
66305 Nagercoil - Kollam MEMU

Days of Service - All Days a Week except Sunday (6 days)
Departure time from Nagercoil - 1630
Arrival/Departure Time at Trivandrum -
Arrival Time at Nagercoil - 2040
Running Time:
Stops - All stations enroute for 1 minute, TVC 5 minutes.
The timings of the MEMU from Kollam is a bit dumb. They should have kept the train sometime between 8 to 9, during the morning rush hour when there are only two trains. Maybe they wanted to fill the slot from Kollam to TVC, as there are no trains between the Chennai - TVC Superfast at 1000 and the Kozhikode - TVC Janshatabdi at 1230.