Howrah–Chennai Mail

Howrah–Chennai Mail

Overview
Service type	Mail
Locale	West Bengal, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu
First service	15 August 1900 (1900-08-15)
Current operator(s)	South Eastern Railway zone
Route
Termini	Howrah Junction Chennai Central
Distance travelled	1,664 km (1,034 mi)
Average journey time	27 hours Approx.
Service frequency	Daily
Train number(s)	12839 / 12840
On-board services
Class(es)	AC First, AC 2 Tier, AC 3 Tier, Sleeper Class, General Unreserved
Seating arrangements	Yes
Sleeping arrangements	Yes
Catering facilities	Yes
Observation facilities	Large windows
Baggage facilities	Yes
Technical
Rolling stock	LHB coach
Track gauge	1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in)
Operating speed	59 km/h (37 mph) average with halts
Route map

The 12839 / 12840 Howrah-Chennai Mail is a mail train of Indian Railways connecting Howrah Junction and Chennai Central. It connects three metropolitan cities of India, Kolkata, Chennai and Visakhapatnam. It also runs via some major cities of India like Bhubaneswar, Vijayawada, etc.

The second-most preferred train to the south after Coromandel Express.

History

The train made its inaugural run on August 15, 1900, which makes it one of the oldest running trains on Indian railways. It was first hauled by steam engines, including the WP class engines, then by diesel, and now by electric WAP-4 or WAP-7 locomotives. It was the first passenger train to be dieselized on the South Eastern Railway in 1964–65. Till the introduction of the Coromandel Express in the mid-seventies, it was the main and fastest train link between Howrah and Chennai (then Madras), with much fewer halts. Presently, this train is the second most important train on the Howrah–Chennai main line after the high speed Coromandel Express. It covers 1,664 km (1,034 mi) at an average speed of 59 km/h (37 mph)

Rakes

• 3 AC Two Tier
• 8 AC Three Tier
• 3 AC Three Tier Economy
• 3 Sleeper class
• 1 Pantry car
• 2 General Unreserved
• 1 End on Generation car (EOG)
• 1 Sitting luggage cum brake van (SLR)

Loco	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	22
	SLR	H1	A1	A2	M1	M2	B1	B2	B3	B4	B6	B7	B8	PC	S1	S2	S3	GS	GS	EOG

Route

Important stations through which it passes are Kharagpur Junction, Balasore, Cuttack Junction, Bhubaneswar, Khurda Road Junction, Berhampur, Naupada, Srikakulam Road railway station , Visakhapatnam, Samalkot Junction, Rajahmundry, Eluru, Vijayawada Junction, Tenali Junction, Nellore, Gudur Junction.