Falaknuma Express

The train is named after the world-famous Falaknuma Palace in Hyderabad, India. Falaknuma is a Persian word (Persian—فلک ا نمایش), which means "Reflections of Sky/Heaven".

It runs daily and connects important stations such as Guntur, Vijayawada, Eluru, Rajahmundry, Vishakhapatnam, Vizianagaram, Bhubaneswar and Kharagpur. It is a fast alternative to other trains such as East Coast Express, Guwahati - Secunderabad Express, Shalimar - Secunderabad AC Superfast Express and Shalimar–Secunderabad Superfast Express. Compared to the other trains from Secunderabad to Kolkata, it covers lesser distance as it runs via the Nalgonda, Guntur route. It is the fastest superfast express between Secunderabad and Visakhapatnam other than Visakhapatnam–Secunderabad Duronto Express & Visakhapatnam–Secunderabad Garib Rath Express. The train runs jampacked throughout the year because people prefer this train as it has lesser halts than other trains on this route. Besides being superfast, the train is most neat and clean after trains like Shatabdi Express, Rajdhani Express and Duronto Express and other superfast trains in India.

The 12703/Howrah-Secunderabad Falaknuma Express has an average speed of 60 km/h and covers 1544 km in 25h 40m. The 12704/Secunderabad-Howrah Falaknuma Express, with the same average speed, covers the same distance in 25h 50m.

The train departs from Platform #21 of Howrah Junction at 07:25 IST and arrives in Platform #2,6 of Secunderabad Junction at 09:05 IST, the next day. From Platform #1 of Secunderabad, the train departs at 15:55 IST and arrives in Platform #20 of Howrah at 17:45 IST, the next day.

The train runs from Secunderabad via Nalgonda, Guntur, Vijayawada Junction, Eluru, Tadepalligudem, Rajahmundry, Samalkot, Visakhapatnam Junction, Vizianagaram, Srikakulam Road, Palasa, Brahmapur, Khurda Road Junction, Bhubaneswar, Cuttack Junction, Bhadrak, Balasore, Kharagpur Junction to Howrah.

The train usually consists of a massive load of 24 standard ICF Coaches:

• 1 AC First Cum Two Tier
• 1 AC Two Tier
• 3 AC Three Tiers
• 13 Sleeper Classes
• 1 Pantry Car
• 3 General (Unreserved)
• 2 Seating (Disabled/Ladies) 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.

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  12703/12704 Falaknuma Express Name Boards
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  12703/12704 Falaknuma Express name plate on SLRD
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  Falaknuma Express at Nalgonda with Kazipet Junction-based twin WDG-3A loco

1. A Lallaguda based WAP 7 or Vijayawada based WAP 4 electric locomotive pulls it from Secunderabad to Visakhapatnam.

2. The train reverses direction at Vishakhapatnam and gets a Santragachi or Howrah based WAP 7 electric locomotive for the rest way up to Howrah.

The 12703/12704 Falaknuma Express previously used to share its rakes with 12733/12734 Narayanadri Express (Secunderabad-Tirupati), but now, it shares its rakes 17063/17064 Ajanta Express (Secunderabad-Manmad).

• Falaknuma Train status