Venad Express thunders past Chingavanam
546 views · Published 7 May 2014 · 0:51 · Indexed 21 October 2026
Channel: Roji Railways · 2014 · Travel & Events
Location:Chingavanam railway station,7KM away from Kottayam and 10KM more to Changanassery,Kerala. Time:10th April 2014 19:16 16301 Shoranur Jn-Trivandrum Central Venad Express skips vibrant and resonant Chingavanam station at a great speed. Chingavanam is a small city between Kottayam and Changanassery. It was in 980 AD, that the famed Diwan of Travencore Veluthampy Dalava made a market place at Changanacheri, realizing the possibilities of development of this place. Chingavanam is located in Nattakom panchayat, Kottayam District. The place is about 9 km from Changanacherry on the Adoor -Kottayam MC Road. Legend has it that the name Chingavanam is derived from Simhavanam. It is near to Kurichi. St John's Catholic Church is a main attraction of Chingavanam. St John's Dayra Knanaya Jacobite Church is located here. Many industries such as Kingsway Rubber Products Pvt Ltd and Kelachandra Iron and Steel Works, which are processing rubber, function at Chingavanam. Venad Express was introduced in 1976 by Southern Railways. Initially the service was between Ernakulam to Trivandrum Central.The train from Trivandrum Central started at 5.30 am and reached Ernakulam Junction by 9.30 am. On the return direction the train leaves Ernakulam Junction at 17:15 pm and reached Trivandrum Central by 21:30 pm. The train had a Green livery initially. The train was later extended to Shoranur after some years and timings were also revised. Venad is one of the oldest daily Intercity trains in Kerala and one of the most popular trains to travel between Trivandrum, the state capital and Ernakulam (Kochi), the most cosmopolitan city in the state. The name Venad came from an old dynasty Venad Swarupam that ruled over Quilon and Thiruvananthapuram.It is a very popular commuter train, used by daily office-goers. In 1980s Indian Railways introduced double-decker coaches in Venad Express. But railways later withdrew the double decker compartments due to operational issues. 16301 departs Shoranur at 14:20 daily and arrives Trivandrum at 22:10. Travel Time: 7h 50m 27 halts Distance: 327 km Avg Speed: 41 km/hr 16302 departs Trivandrum at 05:00 daily and arrives Shoranur at 12:45. Travel Time: 7h 45m 27 halts Distance: 327 km Avg Speed: 42 km/hr
