Ajanta Express

The 17063 / 17064 Ajanta Express is an express train belonging to South Central Railway Zone that runs between Secunderabad and Manmad in India. It is operated with 17063/17064 train numbers on Daily basis.

Ajanta Express
Overview
Service typeExpress
LocaleTelangana & Maharashtra
First service1 April 1967 (1967-04-01)
Current operator(s)South Central Railways
Route
StartSecunderabad (SC)
Stops21
EndManmad (MMR)
Distance travelled619 km (385 mi)
Average journey time12 hrs 00 mins
Service frequencyDaily
Train number(s)17063 / 17064
On-board services
Class(es)AC First, AC II Tier, AC III Tier, Sleeper Class, General Unreserved
Seating arrangementsYes
Sleeping arrangementsYes
Catering facilitiesPantry Car,
On-Board Catering
Observation facilitiesRake sharing with 12703/12704 Falaknuma Express
Baggage facilitiesBelow the seats
Technical
Rolling stockICF Coaches
Track gauge1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) (Broad Gauge)
Operating speed51 km/h (32 mph) average including halts
Ajanta Express Route map

History

Ajanta Express runs through eastern Maharashtra (Marathwada region) and north-western region of Telangana. It was known as Kacheguda Express very often by the people travelling on Kacheguda-Nizamabad-Nanded-Aurangabad route on former Hyderabad-Godavari Valley Railways.

The train was introduced on 1 April 1967 as a metre gauge train between Kacheguda railway station and Manmad, via Nizamabad, Nanded and Aurangabad. The train became popular in a short time as Manmad Junction on 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) broad gauge was the point to take broad gauge trains to other destinations.

After the track from Manmad to Parbhani was converted to broad gauge in 1992–95 and the track from Parbhani to Mudkhed and Nizamabad was still not converted, the train was re-routed between Kacheguda and Manmad via Bidar and Parbhani in 1995–1996 because the metre gauge had been converted between Vikarabad and Parbhani by then. In 2007, the train again diverted to its old route which had been converted into broad gauge in 2002–2003.

Ajanta Express (Kacheguda-Manmad) was the fastest metre gauge train in India with an average speed of 42.5 kilometres per hour (26.4 mph) in 1967.[1]

Overview

The train is named after the Ajanta Caves in Aurangabad. It runs daily and connects important stations such as Nizamabad, Nanded, Aurangabad and Nagarsol.

The 17063/Manmad-Secunderabad Ajanta Express has an average speed of 50 km/h and covers 619 km in 12h 0m. The 17064/ Secunderabad - Manmad Ajanta Express has an average speed of 49 km/h and covers same distance in 12h 35m.

Timings

The train departs from Secunderabad at 18:10 and arrives on Manmad at 6:45 the next day. It departs from Manmad at 20:50 and arrives on Secunderabad at 8:50 the next day.

Classes

The train usually consists of 24 standard ICF coaches:

  • 1 AC first cum II tier
  • 1 AC II tier
  • 3 AC III tiers
  • 13 sleeper classes
  • 3 general (unreserved)
  • 1 pantry car
  • 2 seating (ladies/disabled) cum luggage rakes

As is customary with most other train services in India, coach composition may be amended at the discretion of Indian Railways, depending on demand.

Coach composition
Loco 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24
SLRGENS1S2S3S4S5S6S7S8S9S10S11S12PCS13B1B2B3A1HA1GENGENSLR

Rake sharing

From 1 January 2018, it started to share its rakes with 12703 / 12704 Falaknuma Express

Route & Halts

The train runs from Manmad via Nagarsol, Aurangabad, Jalna, Purna Junction, Hazur Sahib Nanded, Nizamabad Junction, Bolarum, Malkajgiri to Secunderabad.

As the route is not electrified, a Guntakal based WDM 3A / WDM 3D twins hauls the train to complete its full destination.

See also

References
  1. "Chronology of railways in India, Part 4 (1947–1970)". IRFCA Indian Railways Fan Club. 2010. Retrieved 31 March 2013.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.