12616 - Grand Trunk Express

The Grand Trunk Express 12616 is a superfast train that operates on the Southern Zone of the Indian Railways. It provides passengers with a connection between Delhi Sarai Rohilla in Delhi NCT and Chennai Central in Tamil Nadu. It is one of the country’s oldest trains.

History of the Grand Trunk Express

The Southern Mahratta Railways introduced the Grand Trunk Express in 1929. The train once operated between Peshawar (which was a part of British India and the capital of North-West Frontier Province) and Mangalore (which, at that time, was a part of Madras province). This historic train traversed New Delhi and Madras. Later, the route was shortened and operated between Lahore and Mettupalayam in Coimbatore. Back then, it was one of the longest train routes in the country.

The Peshawar-Mangalore route took nearly 104 hours. Even after the route was changed, the train continues to provide regular service between the capital of India and Chennai. The Grand Trunk Express remains one of the longest routes on the Indian Railways.

In December 2015, the Indian Railways changed the operating station from New Delhi to Delhi Sarai Rohilla.

Timing and Distance

The Grand Trunk Express 12616 departs Delhi Sarai Rohilla (DEE) at 17:50 PM and arrives at Chennai Central (MAS) at 6:20 AM after 36 hours and 30 minutes. During that time, it covers a distance of 2,188 kms.

Major Stations along the Route

During the course of its journey, the Grand Trunk Express traverses several states including Delhi NCT, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. During its 36-hour journey, the Grand Trunk Express makes 38 halts. Some of the major stations on the way are:

• Mathura Junction
• Agra Cantt.
• Gwalior Junction
• Jhansi Junction
• Bhopal Junction
• Itarsi Junction
• Nagpur Junction
• Warangal

Average Ticket Price

The average cost of an adult ticket is:

• First AC nearly INR 5,165
• Second AC approximately INR 2,990
• Third AC around INR 2,040
• Sleeper class roughly INR 780

Travelers can even book tatkal tickets for this train. The average tatkal fares for this train are:

• First AC nearly INR 5,165
• Second AC approximately INR 3,515
• Third AC around INR 2,455
• Sleeper class roughly INR 980

Facilities Onboard

For the passengers’ comfort, the train provides a pantry car, onboard catering, pillows, sheets and blankets.

Important Passenger Information

The ticket availability for this train is good, even though this route is quite popular. During peak travel season, such as in the summer holidays and festival season, tickets may be difficult to obtain. It is advisable to book your tickets at least 60 days in advance during these times.

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