{{Italic title}}{{short description|Train in India}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2016}} {{Use Indian English|date=January 2016}} {{Infobox rail service | name = Ananthapuri Express | image = MS QLN Ananthapuri Express.jpg | image_width = | caption = | type = Superfast | status = | locale = Kerala & Tamil Nadu | first = {{start date and age|df=yes|2002|06|30}} | last = | operator = Southern Railway | ridership = | start = {{stnlnk|Tambaram}} (TBM) | stops = 26 Halts | end = {{stnlnk|Kollam Junction}} (QLN) | distance = {{convert|858|km|0|abbr=on}} | journeytime = 15 hours 30 minutes | frequency = Daily | class = AC first, AC 2 tier, AC 3 tier, Sleeper class, General Unreserved | access = {{Access icon|25px}} | seating = Yes | sleeping = Yes | autorack = | catering = On-Board Catering, <br/> E-Catering | observation = Large windows | entertainment = | baggage = Available | otherfacilities = Below the seats | stock = ICF coach (lhb by Q1 2026) | gauge = {{Track gauge|5ft6in|lk=on}} broad gauge |trainnumber = 20635 / 20636 | speed = {{cvt|67|km/h|0|abbr=on}} average including halts. | maintenance = Tiruchchirappalli Junction CDO | sharing = 16965/16866 Uzhavan Express. | map = 250px|Anantapuri Express (Trivandrum-Chennai) Route map | map_state = }}
The 20635 / 20636 '''Ananthapuri Express''' is an express train running between {{stnlnk|Kollam Junction}} and {{stnlnk|Tambaram}} via {{stnlnk|Thiruvananthapuram Central}}, Tirunelveli Junction, Virudhunagar junction, Madurai Junction, Tiruchchirappalli Junction and Villupuram Junction through the trunk line and chord lines in southern India. It is a daily overnight Superfast Express service.
==History== The inauguration of this train was on 30 June 2002<ref name="tvc">{{cite news |url=https://www.thehindu.com/2002/06/18/stories/2002061803430600.htm|newspaper=The Hindu|title=New Thiruvananthapuram–Chennai express train from June 30|date=18 June 2002}}{{dead link|date=April 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> operating six days a week. Later in 2005 it was made daily train. In the beginning it ran between {{stnlnk|Chennai Egmore}} and {{stnlnk|Thiruvananthapuram Central}}. It was named Ananthapuri after the city Thiruvananthapuram. In 2017 railway budget, it was extended<ref name="clt1">{{cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/thiruvananthapuram/kerala-gets-two-more-trains/articleshow/61220494.cms|title=Extended destination of three daily trains running through the state|date=25 October 2017|newspaper= Times of India}}</ref> to Kollam with effect from 1 November 2017.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sr.indianrailways.gov.in |title=Southern Railway–Gateway of South India |access-date=6 April 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://indiarailinfo.com/train/8073 |title=India Rail Info–Anantapuri Express |access-date=6 April 2018}}</ref>
==Coach composition== In total 23 coaches are there. It includes One AC First Class (H),Two AC 2 Tier (A),Three AC 3 Tier (B), Eleven Sleeper Class (SL),Four Unreserved general sitting coach (GS) and Two (SLRD).
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders unsortable" style="text-align:center" |- ! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:#12ad2b;" | <span style="color:#ffffff;">Loco</span> ! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:#804a00;" | <span style="color:#ffffff;">1</span> ! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:#ffd801;" | 2 ! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:#ffd801;" | 3 ! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:#ff00ff;" | 4 ! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:#ff00ff;" | 5 ! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:#ff00ff;" | 6 ! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:#ff00ff;" | 7 ! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:#ff00ff;" | 8 ! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:#ff00ff;" | 9 ! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:#ff00ff;" | 10 ! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:#ff00ff;" | 11 ! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:#ff00ff;" | 12 ! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:#ff00ff;" | 13 ! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:#ff00ff;" | 14 ! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:#00bfff;" | 15 ! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:#00bfff" | 16 ! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:#00bfff" | 17 ! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:#0909ff" | 18 ! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:#0909ff;" | <span style="color:#ffffff;">19</span> ! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:#ff0000;" | <span style="color:#ffffff;">20</span> ! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:#ffd801;" | <span style="color:#ffffff;">21</span> ! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:#ffd801;" | 22 ! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:#804a00;" | <span style="color:#ffffff;">23</span> |- |'''25px''' ||SLRD||GS||GS||S11||S10||S9||S8||S7||S6||S5||S4||S3||S2||S1||B3||B2||B1||A2||A1||H1||GS||GS||SLRD |}The Ananthapuri Superfast Express between Chennai Egmore and Kollam has a rake sharing agreement (RSA) with Uzhavan Express (16865 / 16866) between Chennai and Thanjavur. The primary maintenanced by the four rakes of the express at Tiruchchirappalli (Trichy) coaching depot.<ref>{{cite news |title=Tiruchi chosen for maintenance of Vande Bharat Express rakes |date = 6 May 2022 |url = https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Tiruchirapalli/tiruchi-chosen-for-maintenance-of-vande-bharat-express-rakes/article65388062.ece |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220608235031/https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Tiruchirapalli/tiruchi-chosen-for-maintenance-of-vande-bharat-express-rakes/article65388062.ece |archive-date = 8 June 2022 |newspaper =The Hindu |access-date = 20 November 2022}}</ref> It is very very likely to get lhb coaches by first quarter of 2026. The coach composition will be 10 sleeper coaches, 4 3 ac coaches,3 2ac coaches 1 1 ac coach and 3 Unreserved coaches and 1 car generator(22 coaches).
==Incident== The engine of 16723 Express caught fire at Kollam Junction on 16 July 2018.<ref>''(Malayalam, not available in English)'' [https://www.manoramaonline.com/news/latest-news/2018/07/16/fire-in-kollam-ananthapuri-express-train.html manoramaonline.com...train.html]</ref>
==See also== * Quilon Mail * Ernakulam–Velankanni Express * Guruvayur Express * Palaruvi Express * Silambu Express * Pandian Superfast Express * Vaigai Superfast Express
==References== {{reflist}} ==External links==
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{{Express trains running through Kerala}} {{Kollam}} {{Railways in Southern India}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Anantapuri Express}} Category:Rail transport in Kollam Category:Transport in Thiruvananthapuram Category:Transport in Chennai Category:Railway services introduced in 2002 Category:Named passenger trains of India Category:Rail transport in Kerala Category:Rail transport in Tamil Nadu Category:Superfast Express trains Category:Kollam–Chennai trains