Channel: Best of Indian Railways

Category: Travel & Events

Tags: irfcanetravathi expressdurontosharavathi riverkasargodshoranurkannurernad expresschennai mangalore mailkochiexecutive expressmumbai kochi full journeykozhikodekali riverudupiduronto expresskerala sampark krantimumbai ernakulam durontogandhidham nagercoil expressmangala lakshadweep expressalleppey chennai expressnetravathi riverltt ers durontoindian railwayskarwarsampark kranti expresskerala expressparasuram expressvenad express

Description: Highlights from a family trip with my better half aboard the Mumbai LTT Ernakulam Duronto Express, powered by twin Kalyan WDM3Ds. We set out in the evening from Mumbai LTT and are served a sumptuous dinner. Next morning, we are flying through southern Konkan amidst a tremendous uninterrupted 270 km run between Madgaon and Thokur, on the outskirts of Mangalore. In between, we cross the sprawling Kali and Sharavathi rivers, and rapidly cross the stations of Udupi and Karwar, which few trains skip on this route. Post Mangalore, we cross the Netravathi river and head southwards through coastal Kerala, accompanied by the Arabian Sea for company, and skipping the station of Kannur - again, skipped only by Durontos. Post Shoranur, we enter Ernakulam after negotiating the Wadakancherry Ghats. The return trip is by the Kerala Sampark Kranti Express and includes a few major crossings and scenic glimpses of the Wadakancherry Ghats, the Arabian Sea and the Western Ghats along north Konkan. Major crossings including those with the Kerala Express, Ernakulam Kannur Intercity, Malabar Express, Ernad Express, Venad Express, Gandhidham Nagercoil Express (Ernakulam twin WDM3As), Chennai Mangalore Mail, Coimbatore Mangalore Intercity, Coimbatore Mangalore Passenger, Mangala Lakshadweep Express, Netravathi Express, Alleppey Chennai Express, and the Executive Express.