Gurudev Express

The 12659 / 60 Gurudev Express is a Express train belonging to the Indian Railways southern zone that runs between Nagercoil Junction and Shalimar in India.

It operates as train number 12659 from Nagercoil Junction to Shalimar and as train number 12660 in the reverse direction serving the states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and West Bengal.

Background
The Gurudev Express is a joint tribute to Rabindranath Tagore and saint Sree Narayana Guru

Coaches
The 12659 / 60 Gurudev Express has one AC 2-tier, two AC 3-tier, 13 sleeper class, three general unreserved and two SLR (seating with luggage rake) coaches and two high capacity parcel van coaches. It does not carry a pantry car coach.

As is customary with most train services in India, coach composition may be amended at the discretion of Indian Railways depending on demand.

Service
The 12659 Nagercoil Junction - Shalimar Gurudev Express covers the distance of 2579 km in 47 hours 10 mins (55 km/h) and in 46 hours 05 mins as the 12660 Shalimar - Nagercoil Junction (56 km/h).

As the average speed of the train is slightly above 55 km/h, as per railway rules, its fare includes a Superfast surcharge.

Routing
The 12659 / 60 runs from Nagercoil Junction via Thiruvananthapuram, Kottayam, Ernakulam Town, Palakkad Junction, Coimbatore Junction, Tirupati, Vijayawada Junction, Eluru, Visakhapatnam, Bhubaneswar, Kharagpur Junction to Shalimar.

Reverse
The train reverses at Visakhapatnam railway station

Traction
As the route is fully electrified, an Erode or Royapuram based WAP-4 locomotive powers the train up to Visakhapatnam. Later, an Howrah Junction based WAP-4 locomotive takes the reversed direction and pulls the train to its destination.

Rake composition

 * 1 AC II Tier
 * 2 AC III Tier
 * 12 Sleeper Coaches
 * 3 General
 * 2 moter Cum Parcel van
 * 2 General can luggage