Ernakulam–Velankanni Express

The Ernakulam Velankanni Express is a train service in the Southern Railway zone of India. It runs between Ernakulam and Velankanni via Kottayam, Kollam, Tenkasi, Virudhunagar, Manamadurai,Karaikudi, Tiruthuraipundi, and Tiruvarur. This train is helpful for pilgrims from Kerala to reach Velankanni Church and Nagore Dargah.

Service
This train covers a distance of 690 km with a journey time of approximately 16 3/4 hours.

It runs as a bi-weekly express with train no 16361 on Mondays and Saturdays and 16362 on Sundays and Tuesdays.

The railway board approved a biweekly express on 17/8/2023 and is running with the above numbers.

It is hauled by ERS WDG-3A for end to end journey. Twin lead till QLN and 1 is attached as a banker from QLN to SCT.

Major halts
The major halts in this train are


 * Ernakulam Junction
 * Kottayam
 * Changanasseri
 * Thiruvalla
 * Chengannur
 * Kayamkulam
 * Kollam Junction
 * Punalur
 * Sengottai
 * Tenkasi Junction
 * Rajapalayam
 * Virudhunagar Junction
 * Aruppukkottai
 * Manamadurai Junction
 * Karaikkudi Junction
 * Pattukkottai
 * Thiruvarur Junction
 * Velankanni

Coaches
The train has standard ICF rakes with a maximum speed of 110 km/h. This train does not have rake sharing and have 1 independent rake.

The train consists of 18 coaches:


 * 1 AC II Tier
 * 4 AC III Tier
 * 9 Sleeper coaches
 * 2 General Unreserved
 * 2 SLR cum Luggage Rake

The number of coaches got increased from 14 to 18 from April 6th 2024, subject to positive inspection report submitted by RDSO to Southern Railway for running 22 LHB/24 ICF coaches in the Ghats section. The number of coaches will be further increased in the next phase after the extension of platforms in stations along Kollam-Sengottai section to accommodate 24 coaches.

Direction reversal
The train reverses its direction twice:


 * Kollam Junction railway station before entering into Kollam Sengottai Line (Ghat section with an MPS of 30kmph).
 * Nagapattinam Junction railway station before entering the line to Velankanni.