Chennai Express- A Brief Overview of Routes, Fares, Food Options And More

Chennai Express is the major intercity train that connects the two long-distance states from each- other. The Chennai express train starts from Dadar Railway stations and terminates at Chennai Egmore, One of the busiest railway stations of Tamil Nadu. Mumbai is located in the state of Maharashtra and reaches to the capital town of Tamil Nadu; Chennai thus the train connects 2 major capital towns of India. The distance between Mumbai and Chennai is about 1281 kilometers. The train takes almost 24 hours to complete the journey. The train halts at almost 23 railway stations and finally riches its destination at Chennai Egmore railway station. This is the train that operates everyday from Mumbai to Chennai every day. As there are almost 6 trains directly run from Mumbai to Chennai on weekly basis but the frequently running Chennai express is the best option for traveling from Mumbai to Chennai.

Chennai Express: Time Table

• Runs on: All 7 days of week.
• Origin Station: Dadar (DDR)
• Destination Station: Chennai Egmore (MS) 
• Travel Timing: 24 Hrs.

The Train starts by 8: 30 pm from Dadar railway station and it reaches Chennai Egmore next day at 7: 45 pm as scheduled. Thus the train counts almost 23 hours 15 minutes scheduled to reach Chennai from Mumbai via Chennai Express.

The route Planning: Chennai Express (12163) connecting 23 stations

Chennai express (12163) is the train that completes its journey from Mumbai on day 1 and reaches Chennai Egmore railways station on day 2 completing almost a day cycle of 24 hours. There are as many 23 railway station come in between where the train halts and connects the passengers from these places to reach Chennai. However the minimum halt timing is 2 minutes and maximum halt time is 15 minutes for this train. The train stops only at Guntakal for 15 minutes. Guntakal is a single railway station where this train halts for the longest time in its journey from Mumbai to Chennai.

Chennai Express leaves the Dadar railway station by 8: 30 PM on day one from Mumbai. You can catch the train after having your dinner as this is already night and there is no pantry-car facility in this train or you can order food online in train at Dadar junction. Kalyan junction, Mumbai is the second railway station where the train reaches by 9: 05 pm and leaves the station after 5 minutes of halt at Kalyan Junction. Don’t forget to check for meal options available for online food booking in train at Kalyan Junction.

The train reaches at Lonavala by 10: 40 competing 119 kilometers of train journey from Mumbai on day one only. Pune junction railway station is the 4^th railway station where the Chennai express reaches by 12 : 05 and after 5 minutes of halt at this station, train runs further towards its destination. You better sleep-off at the comfort of your berths.

Solapur is another railway station where the train halts again for 10 minutes by 4 : 00 am on 2^nd day of journey. The train will be passing through beautiful scenic places and the sun will awake you in the beautiful terrain of Gulbarga by 6: 00 am at the morning. Train makes 2 minutes halt at Gulbarga railway station and moves further. The scenic beauty of this railway route will make your heart blow at the pleasant routes of Indian railways. Shahabad, Wadi, Yadgir and Saidpur railway stations comes further in the way where the train makes it halt for minutes each at every station.

Train approaches at Raichur by 8 : 50 am in the morning on the second day of its journey. You can have a cup of hot tea / coffee from the tea vendors coming in the train coaches. At this station you can also order online food in train for your brunch option at Guntakal railway station where the train reaches by 11: 00 am. After the Raichur train makes its halt Mantralayam road and Adoni for 2 minutes each. Next station is Guntakal railway station where the train reaches by 11: 00 am on the second day of its journey. At the station of Guntakal the train halts at the station for 15 minutes. If you have ordered online food in train then you will get your packet of fresh and tasty food at your berth at this station.

After 15 minutes of train halt the station moves towards Gooty railway station, Tadipatri railway station, Yeraguntala railway station, Cuddapah railway station, Razampeta railway station and Koduru railway station by 3: 40 pm on the 2^nd day of the train journey. It’s already evening and you may be looking for the scrumptious food to feast your hunger. You can order evening snacks from the railway station of Koduru to get your fresh and tasty appetite feast at the next railway station of Ranigunta junction where Chennai express reaches around 5: 00 pm. Here the train makes its halt for 5 minutes. You can also order packaged drinking water online in train form IRCTC e-catering service. You have travelled 1134 kilometers away from Mumbai and the train is about to approach your destination. Arakonam railway station is the next railway station where train reaches at 06: 05 pm next day and halt for 2 minutes.

Perambur is the second last railway station halt where the train halts for 2 minutes around 06: 55 PM in the evening. The train finally approaches at Chennai Egmore railway station around 7 : 45 PM on the 2^nd day of railway journey from Mumbai to Chennai by covering the railway route distance of 1281 kilometers.

Fare and available coach classes

Chennai express houses Sleeper class coach, 3^RD AC class Coach, 2nds AC class coach and 1^st AC class coach for the travelers ease. Chennai express is also one the fastest train to reach Chennai from Mumbai. The fare details are below –

• Sleeper Class Coach – INR 550 per pax.
• 3^Rd AC class coach – INR 1470 per pax.
• 2^ND AC class Coach – INR 2125 per pax.
• 1^st AC class Coach – INR 3630 per pax.

Note: The prices of the ticket may vary according to the changing rules and regulations of Indian railways fare system. The prices may also differ at the time of Tatkal Ticket booking.

Indian railways also provide relaxation in the fare through different categories of concession. So if you belong to any such reserved category of passengers then you can book your ticket under the reserved ticketing system for the fare concession.

Travel tips

1. Train doesn’t house any pantry car so it’s better that you carry light food items with you for your train journey. For your lunch and evening snacks you can order online food in train from IRCTC e-catering service.
2. Train is usually on-time so please be on time at your boarding station.
3. Chennai express halts for 2 minutes at its most of eh railway halts so don’t get down from your train.
4. To avail fresh and tasty food in train always prefers IRCTC e-catering and IRCTC e-catering partner companies only for the good food in train. Don’t rely on station food at all.
5. Check your PNR status before your reach at the station to get a fair idea about your train-journey confirmation.
6. Keep yourself hydrated in the train to avoid health issues.

We wish you a happy and healthy journey from Mumbai to Chennai through the amazing ride of Chennai express, the train connecting two major capital towns of Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra. The train route from Mumbai to Chennai goes through some of the beautiful railway routes making your train journey pleasant and blissful. Check your live train running status and enjoy your journey time since the destination is destined to come.