Memorabilia
The history of this train regarding how it evolved from a biweekly combined Kerala Karnataka Express into a separate Kerala Express, delinked from its twin, the Karnataka Express, is by now well documented in IRI.
But it is surprising to note that the travel time has hardly undergone much of a change over the years may be due to the large number of stoppages it now has. Consider that as at present it leaves TVC daily at 1115 reaching NDLS at 1340, covering a distance of 3034 kms in 50 hrs...
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25 mns. However, in 1986 it departed from TVC at 1310 arriving at NDLS at 1600, a journey time of 50 hrs 50 mns. GOOD PROGRESS BY IR :)
Then a biweekly, the train leaving TVC would arrive at PGT at 2055. At PGT a link express numbered 84 leaving Mangalore at 755 and arriving at PGT at 1630 would lie in wait, for nearly 5 hours, for the mother train from TVC. After amalgamation the combined rake would proceed on its onward journey to NDLS from PGT at 2115.
On the return trip 126 would leave NDLS at 1400 hrs and reach PGT at 805 where it would get bifurcated. The mother train would depart for TVC at 835 and arrive at its destination at 1645, while the 83 Link Express would leave PGT at 915 reaching Mangalore at 1755.
(Source : TAAG 1986 )