Rameswaram–Okha Express

16734 Okha–Rameswaram Express near Dwarka
Overview
Service type	Express
First service	9 November 2006 (2006-11-09)
Current operator(s)	Southern Railways
Route
Termini	Rameswaram (RMM) Okha (OKHA)
Stops	43 as 16733 45 as 16734
Distance travelled	3,153 km (1,959 mi)
Average journey time	58 hours 15 mins
Service frequency	Weekly
Train number(s)	16733 / 16734
On-board services
Class(es)	AC 1st, AC 2 tier, AC 3 tier, Sleeper class, General Unreserved
Seating arrangements	Yes
Sleeping arrangements	Yes
Catering facilities	Pantry car On-board catering
Technical
Rolling stock	2
Track gauge	1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in)
Operating speed	51 km/h (32 mph), including halts
Route map

The 16733/16734 Rameswaram–Okha Express is an Express train belonging to Indian Railways – Madurai Division of the Southern Railway zone that runs between Rameswaram and Okha in India.

It operates as train number 16733 from Rameswaram to Okha and as train number 16734 in the reverse direction, serving the states of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra and Gujarat.

History

It is one of the very first train which is operated from Rameswaram immediately after Gauge Conversion of Manamadurai–Rameswaram line from Meter Gauge to Broad Gauge. This train is operated in such a long circuitous route because during its introduction, most of the railway lines in India are under gauge conversion from narrower gauges to broad gauge, so this train is operated using existing railway routes at that time. This train was originally introduced between Madurai and Manamad. Later this train was extended in both sides i.e. From Madurai it was extended until Rameswaram and from Manamad it was extended until Okha.^[1] At initial days of operation, its maintenance is done at Madurai, after constructing a railway maintenance yard at Rameswaram, the maintenance of this train has been shifted from Madurai to Rameswaram. At present, It is the only train from southern part of Tamil Nadu such as Madurai, Rameswaram which are directly connected with the Manamad, Aurangabad areas of Maharashtra.

Coaches

The train has standard ICF rakes with a maximum speed of 110 km/h. The train consists of 22 coaches:^[2]

• 2 AC II Tier
• 2 AC III Tier
• 11 Sleeper coaches
• 4 General Unreserved
• 2 Seating cum Luggage Rake
• 1 Pantry car

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

Service

16733/Rameswaram–Okha Express covers the distance of 3,153 km (1,959 mi) in 59 hours 50 mins (49 km/h)

16734/Okha–Rameswaram Express covers the distance of 3,153 km (1,959 mi) in 58 hours 35 mins (53 km/h).

Route

The 16733 / 34 Rameswaram–Okha Express runs from Rameswaram via Manamadurai Junction, Madurai Junction, Salem Junction, Jolarpettai Junction, Katpadi Junction, Tirupati, Yerraguntla Junction, Dhone Junction, Kacheguda, Nizamabad Junction, Hazur Sahib Nanded, Parbhani Junction, Manmad Junction, Jalgaon Junction, Surat, Vadodara Junction, Ahmedabad Junction, Viramgam Junction, Surendranagar Junction, Wankaner Junction, Rajkot Junction, Jamnagar, Dwarka to Okha.^[3]

At present it is the only direct express train that runs from Rameswaram to nearby places of Mumbai such as Manmad and Surat.

Schedule

Traction

Both trains are hauled by a Diesel Loco Shed, Golden Rock-based WDM-3A between Rameswaram and Madurai Junction. After Madurai Junction, both trains are hauled by a Diesel Loco Shed, Erode-based WDP-4D up to Okha and vice versa.

References

External links

• 16733 Rameswaram - Okha Express at India Rail Info
• 16734 Okha - Rameswaram Express at India Rail Info