Chennai Egmore–Guruvayur Express

The 16127 / 16128 Chennai Egmore–Guruvayur Express is one of the express trains of Southern Railway zone in India, which runs between Chennai Egmore in Tamilnadu to Guruvayur in Kerala. This train is the successor the erstwhile Chennai Egmore (MS) - Cochin Harbour Terminus (CHTS) Mixed Express. The Mixed Express stopped running after Cochin Harbour Terminus (CHTS) was closed down for Passenger services in 2000.

Background
Earlier it used to connect Cochin Harbour Terminus (CHTS) with state capital of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram and was later extended to Nagercoil, Madurai and then Chennai. Cochin Harbour Terminus (CHTS) was closed down for Passenger services in 2000. Hence the Train was introduced in 2003 to run between capital of Tamil Nadu, Chennai and the temple city, Guruvayur in Thrissur district of Kerala via Tiruchirapalli, Madurai, Tirunelveli, Nagercoil, Trivandrum the capital city of Kerala, Ernakulam & Thrissur. A link of the train runs up to Thoothukudi as it was announced by the Railway Minister of India in the 2013-2014 Railway Budget. After December 2020, this link train was suspended.

Route
At present the service leaves Chennai Egmore daily in the morning, and reaches Guruvayur the next morning. In return it leaves Guruvayur daily at night and reaches Chennai Egmore night of next day. It runs through Chengalpattu, Villupuram, Vriddhachalam, Trichy, Dindigul, Madurai Junction, Virudhunagar, Tirunelveli, Vallioor ,Nagercoil Town, Thiruvananthapuram Central, Kollam, Kayamkulam, Ernakulam Junction, Thrissur, Punkunnam.

Schedule
Earlier in 1990's era, this daily express train departed from Chennai Egmore at 9.00 hrs in the morning, reaching Cochin Harbour Terminus (CHTS) next day at 07.45 hrs. In return the express train departed from Cochin Harbour Terminus (CHTS) at 21.00 hrs, reaching Chennai Egmore next day at 19.45 hrs, covering 1022 km in 22 hrs 45 mins at speed of 45 km/h, But with closure of Cochin Harbour Terminus (CHTS) in 2002, from 2003, this daily express train commences its journey as Train Number 16127 from Chennai Egmore at 09.00 hrs and reaches Guruvayur the next day at 06.40 hrs, links the important cities and towns of southern Tamil Nadu with Kerala via Chord line reversing loco at Nagercoil Junction. It connects the important cities of Chennai, Villupuram, Tiruchirappalli, Madurai and Tirunelveli in Tamil Nadu with Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Kochi and Thrissur in Kerala. It longitudinally crosses almost the whole state of Tamil Nadu. It runs via Alleppey route in Kerala. In return direction the express train leaves Guruvayur at 22.35 hrs daily as Train Number 16128 and reaches Chennai Egmore the next day at 20.45 hrs via the same route.