Tea Garden Express
| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Service type | Regional rail Express |
| Status | Operating |
| Locale | Tamil Nadu and Kerala |
| First service | 26 December 1944 |
| Current operator | Southern Railway zone |
| Former operator | South Indian Railway |
| Route | |
| Termini | Karaikal (KIK) Ernakulam Junction (ERS) |
| Stops | 26 |
| Distance travelled | 593 km (368 mi) |
| Average journey time | 14 Hours 15 Minutes |
| Service frequency | Daily |
| Train number | 16187 / 16188 |
| Lines used | Jolarpettai–Shoranur line (ED – SRR) Shoranur–Cochin Harbour section (SRR – ERS) |
| On-board services | |
| Classes | AC 2 Tier, AC 3 Tier, Sleeper Class, General Unreserved |
| Disabled access | |
| Seating arrangements | Corridor coach (Unreserved) |
| Sleeping arrangements | Couchette car |
| Auto-rack arrangements | No |
| Catering facilities | No |
| Observation facilities | Windows in all carriages |
| Entertainment facilities | No |
| Baggage facilities | Overhead racks Baggage carriage |
| Technical | |
| Rolling stock | Locomotive: WAP4 (AJJ/ED) Coach: One AC 2–Tier (2A) Two AC 3–Tier (3A) Thirteen II Sleeper Five UR / GS Two SLR |
| Track gauge | 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) |
| Electrification | Yes |
| Operating speed | 42 kilometres per hour (26 mph) |
| Track owner | Southern Railway zone |
| Timetable number | 86 / 86A |
Tea Garden Express (Officially known as Karaikal – Ernakulam Express) is an overnight regional rail connecting Karaikal in Union Territory of Puducherry with Ernakulam in Kerala via Nagapattinam Junction, Thanjavur Junction, Tiruchirappalli Junction, Karur Junction, Coimbatore Junction, Palakkad Junction.