The Grand Trunk Express - Definition and Overview

The Grand Trunk Express, or just G.T., is one of the oldest and most famous trains in India.

It first started running in 1929, and to this day provides a daily service between New Delhi, the capital of India, and the southern port city of Madras (Chennai). It covers the distance of 2186 kilometres (1358 miles) in exactly 36 hours, with 37 halts en route.

The normal composition of the GT is 24 coaches (cars):

• 1 x AC I Class

• 2 x AC II tier

• 3 x AC III tier

• 13 x III tier Sleeper

• 4 x General/Unreserved

• 1 x Pantry

Sometimes an extra III tier sleeper coach is added to bring the total up to 25 coaches.

The GT is hauled for the entire route by a single WAP-4 AC electric locomotive from the Erode shed.

The GT is such an old and prestigious train, that the entire route on which it runs (the arterial North-South route, which is a doubled and fully electrified route) is known as the Grand Trunk route. This is despite the fact that these days the old GT is no longer the fastest or most prestigious train on the route.

External links

• Famous Trains Of India (http://irfca.org/~shankie/famoustrains/famtraingt.htm)
• IRFCA Home (http://wwww.irfca.org)
• Indian Railways Official Site (http://www.indianrailgov.in)