Howrah–Ernakulam Antyodaya Express

Howrah–Ernakulam Antyodaya Express is a superfast express train of the Indian Railways connecting Howrah Junction in Kolkata and Ernakulam Junction in Kochi. It is currently being operated with 22877/22878 train numbers on a weekly basis. It has been a lifeline for the migrant workers from Eastern India. Thousands of workers use this train to travel from West Bengal and Odisha to the industrial cities in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.



Coach composition
The trains is completely general coaches trains designed by Indian Railways with features of LED screen display to show information about stations, train speed etc. Vending machines for tea, coffee and milk, bio toilets in compartments as well as CCTV cameras as well as facility for potable drinking water and mobile charging points and toilet occupancy indicators.

Service
It averages 63 km/h as 22877 Antyodaya Express starts on Saturday and covering 2285 km in 37 hrs and 59 km/h as 22878 Antyodaya Express starts on Tuesday covering 1968 km in 38 hrs 15 mins.

This train serves one of the busiest corridor of migrant laborers movement in India. That is from Eastern India to Southern Indian cities of Kochi, Thrissur, Palakkad, Coimbatore, Ongole, Vijayawada, Eluru, Rajahmundry, Vijaynagaram etc.

Route & halts

 * Howrah
 * Kharagpur Junction
 * Balasore
 * Bhadrak
 * Cuttack Junction
 * Bhubaneswar
 * Khurda Road Junction
 * Brahmapur
 * Palasa
 * Srikakulam Road
 * Vizianagaram Junction
 * Duvvada
 * Rajahmundry
 * Eluru
 * Vijayawada Junction
 * Ongole
 * Renigunta Junction
 * Katpadi Junction
 * Jolarpettai Junction
 * Salem Junction
 * Erode Junction
 * Coimbatore Junction
 * Palakkad Junction
 * Thrissur
 * Aluva
 * Ernakulam Junction

Loco link
Both trains are hauled by a Santragachi / Tatanagar-based WAP-7 electric locomotives.

Operation
22877 – leaves Howrah Junction on Saturday and reaches Ernakulam Junction on day 3 at morning 6:00 hrs IST

22878 – leaves Ernakulam Junction every Tuesday at 00:20 hrs IST in night and reach Howrah Junction on 2nd day at 14:50 hrs IST