Hirakhand Express

Hirakhand Express is a daily express train which runs between Jagdalpur and Bhubaneswar. It was initially introduced between Sambalpur and Balangir. This train has seen several extension on both the ends and now running in a completely different route than its initial station of origin. First it was extended to run between Rourkela and Titlagarh, then between Rourkela and Rayagada, then between Rourkela and Bhubaneswar via Vijayanagaram but after completion of the Koraput-Rayagada link line connecting Jharsuguda-Vizianagaram line with Kothavalasa-Kirandul line, it was diverted to run between Koraput to Bhubaneswar. In 2010, it was further extended till Jagdalpur.[1] It is operated by the East Coast Railway Zone of Indian Railways.

Hirakhand Express
Hirakhand Express at Tikiri
Overview
Service typeDaily Train
LocaleChhattisgarh, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh
Current operator(s)East Coast Railway
Route
StartJagdalpur
Stops37
EndBhubaneswar
Distance travelled786 km (488 mi)
Average journey time17 hours 55 minutes
Service frequencyDaily
Train number(s)18447 / 18448
On-board services
Class(es)AC2 tier, AC3 tier, sleeper class and General sitting
Seating arrangementsYes
Sleeping arrangementsYes
Catering facilitiesNo, Self-service, E-catering available
Entertainment facilitiesNil
Baggage facilitiesUnder the Seats
Technical
Track gauge1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) (Broad Gauge)
Operating speedAvg.43 km/h (27 mph) with halts Maximum 89 km/h (55 mph)
Route map

Etymology

Hirakhand means a piece of diamond in Sambalpuri language spoken in Western Odisha. It is named after the medieval period kingdom of Hirakhand otherwise known as Sambalpur State spread across present Western Odisha and parts of Chhattisgarh state.

Schedule

The 18447 Hirakhand Express leaves Bhubaneswar every day at 1935 hrs IST and reaches Jagdalpur at 1330 hrs IST the next day. The 18448 Hirakhand Express leaves Jagdalpur every day at 1430 hrs IST and reaches Bhubaneswar at 0825 hrs IST on next day.

Stoppages

The major stoppages are Jeypore, Koraput Junction, Rayagada, Vizianagaram Junction, Srikakulam Road, Palasa, Brahmapur and Khurda Road Junction.

Slip Route

On 11 August 2012, a "slip route" of Hirakhand Express was Inaugurated as "Junagarh Road-Bhubaneswar Link Express" (Train Number-18437/18438). The source of this train is Junagarh Road near Bhawanipatna. It leaves Bhawanipatna at 1855 hrs IST daily and arrives at 0825 hrs IST daily. The train amalgamates/bifurcates at Rayagada with/from the main Jagdalpur Hirakhand Express. This train halts at Depur PH, G.Ramchandrapur, Lanjigarh Road Junction, Ambodala, Muniguda, Bissam Cuttack and Therubali before/after Rayagada.[2]

Traction

As the route is electrified, it is hauled by a VSKP-based WAP-4 electric locomotive from Bhubaneswar to Jagdalpur and vice versa. Its slip separated at Rayagada railway station and using a VSKP based WDG 3A to Junagarh Road and Bhawanipatna from Rayagada.

Accidents

References

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