Gurudev Express

The 12659 / 12660 Gurudev Superfast Express is a Superfast express train belonging to the Indian Railways southern zone that runs between Nagercoil Junction and Shalimar in India.^[1]

Gurudev Superfast Express

Overview
Service type	Superfast
First service	1 July 2001; 23 years ago (2001-07-01)
Current operator(s)	Southern Railway
Route
Termini	Nagercoil (NCJ) Kolkata Shalimar (SHM)
Stops	41
Distance travelled	2,579 km (1,603 mi)
Average journey time	45 hours 25 minutes
Service frequency	Weekly
Train number(s)	12659 / 12660
On-board services
Class(es)	AC 2 Tier, AC 3 Tier, Sleeper Class, General Unreserved
Seating arrangements	Yes
Sleeping arrangements	Yes
Catering facilities	On-board catering, E-catering
Observation facilities	Large windows
Baggage facilities	No
Other facilities	Below the seats
Technical
Rolling stock	ICF coach
Track gauge	1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in)
Operating speed	57 km/h (35 mph) average including halts.
Route map

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.^[2]

As is customary with most train services in India, coach composition may be amended at the discretion of Indian Railways depending on demand.^[3]

Service

The 12659 Nagercoil Junction - Shalimar Gurudev Express covers the distance of 2,579 km (1,603 mi) 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 (34 mph), as per railway rules, its fare includes a Superfast surcharge.^[4]

Schedule

Train Number	Station Code	Departure Station	Departure Time	Departure Day	Arrival Station	Arrival Time	Arrival Date
12660	SHM	Shalimar (Kolkata)	11:05 PM	Wednesday	Nagercoil Jn	9:55 PM	Friday
12659	NCJ	Nagercoil Jn	2:45 PM	Sunday	Shalimar (Kolkata)	1:50 PM	Tuesday

Routing

The 12659 / 60 runs from Nagercoil Junction via Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam Junction, Tiruvalla, Kottayam, Ernakulam Town, Palakkad Junction, Coimbatore Junction, Tirupati, Vijayawada Junction, Eluru, Visakhapatnam, Bhubaneswar, Kharagpur Junction to Shalimar.^[5]

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

Loco	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22
	VP	GRD	VP	GEN	S1	S2	S3	S4	S5	S6	S7	S8	S9	S10	S11	S12	B1	B2	A1	GEN	GEN	GRD