Andaman Express

The 16031 / 16032 Andaman Express is a long-distance express train in India, connecting the cities of Chennai in Tamil Nadu and Katra, Jammu and Kashmir.

It is the slowest train between Delhi and Chennai.

It is hauled by an Arakkonam-based WAP-4 or WAP-7 or Royapuram based WAP-7.

Earlier when it was under Northern Railways, it was hauled by a Ghaziabad-based WAP-1.

The train runs three times weekly, covering a distance of 2848 km at an average speed of 50 km/h with over 79 intermediate halts in between including important stations such as Vijayawada, Warangal, Balharshah, Nagpur, Betul, Itarsi, Bhopal, Jhansi, Agra, Mathura, New Delhi, Ambala Cantonment, Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Jammu Tawi, Udhampur.

The train is named after the Andaman Islands of the country situated off the Eastern coast. It has been extended to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra of Jammu and Kashmir on 3 September 2015. In 2013, an exclusive air-conditioned coach was added to the train for CAPF and other police forces for the first time in the Indian Railways.

Number and nomenclature
The number provided for the train is:

Charminar Express
 * 16031 – Chennai Central to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra
 * 16032 – Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra to Chennai Central

Route and halts
The train goes via Sullurpeta - Nayudupeta - Gudur - Nellore - Kavali - Ongole - Chirala - Tenali – New Guntur – Vijayawada – Khammam – Warangal – Ramagundam – Mancherial - Bellampalli - Balharshah Junction – Sewagram – Nagpur – Itarsi – Bhopal – Bina – Jhansi – Gwalior –Morena- Agra – Mathura – New Delhi – Rohtak – Jind – Narwana – Jakhal – Dhuri – Ludhiana – Jalandhar Cantonment Junction – Pathankot Cantonment – Jammu Tawi. The train makes 79 stops.

Coach composition

 * 1 AC Two Tier
 * 2 AC Three Tier
 * 8 Sleeper class
 * 5 General Unreserved
 * 2 SLR coaches
 * Rocket Tracks