Habibganj - New Delhi Shatabdi Express

Bhopal Shatabdi Express
Overview
Service type Shatabdi Express
First service November 14, 1988 (1988-11-14)
Current operator(s) Northern Railway zone
Route
Start New Delhi
Stops 8
End Bhopal Habibganj
Distance travelled 707 km (439 mi)
Average journey time 8 hours 30 minutes (Approx.)
Service frequency daily
Train number(s) 12001 / 12002
On-board services
Class(es) Executive Chair Car, AC Chair Car
Seating arrangements Yes
Sleeping arrangements No
Catering facilities Yes
Observation facilities LHB large windows
Baggage facilities Yes
Technical
Track gauge 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in)
Electrification Yes
Operating speed 150 km/h (93 mph) maximum
100 km/h (62 mph), including halts

The New Delhi Bhopal Habibganj Shatabdi Express is a train operated by the Northern Railway which runs between New Delhi, the main railway station of India's capital territory, New Delhi, and Habibganj the sub-urban railway station of Bhopal City, the state capital of central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. This is the second fastest train in India with the top speed of 155 km/h.

It runs on the New Delhi-Agra stretch.[1] The train commenced service in 1988 and was the first Shatabdi train to be introduced. The train runs at an average speed of 100 km/h (62 mph), including halts. There is a plan by the IR to cut short its travel time of 2 hours 06 minutes to 1 hour 35 minutes (95 minutes) in the New Delhi -Agra section at an average speed of 125 km/h (78 mph) when the Maximum Permissible Speed in this section is enhanced to 200 km/h (124 mph). This train was been extended to Habibganj in the railway budget of 2014-15 .

History

The name "Shatabdi" means centenary in Sanskrit. The first Shatabdi Express train was introduced in 1988 to commemorate the birth century of Jawahar Lal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India. Madhavrao Scindia was the Indian Railway Minister[2] at that point of time and the Shatabdi Express was his brainchild. The first Shatabdi Express was flagged off between New Delhi and Gwalior, which was later extended to Jhansi subsequently extended to Bhopal and Habibganj.[3]

Habibganj - New Delhi Shatabdi Express arriving Habibganj with GZB WAP-5

Train

Interior view of Bhopal Shatabdi Express AC Chair Car

The trains are fully Air-conditioned and of a much higher standard than most Indian rail coaches. Shatabdi Express travelers are provided with snacks, meals, coffee/tea, a one-litre water bottle/ 300ml packaged water (for short distance journey) provided by the railways owned and operated subsidiary '"Rail Neer", and juice.

The train runs with new imported LHB coaches on all days. The cost of meals, breakfast etc. is all covered in the booking fare. The rake is shared with 12011/2 Kalka Shatabdi Express with actual RSA pattern unknown.

A WAP5-hauled Bhopal Shatabdi about to leave New Delhi Railway Station

Route

The train runs across the tourism hub of India covering major tourist cities like New Delhi, Mathura Junction, Agra Cantonment, Gwalior, Jhansi & Bhopal.

Coach composition

The train has 14 AC Chair cars, 2 AC First class, 2 power cars (Total 18 coaches), no further augmentation due to limitation of speed. LHB coaches have failed trials with more than 18 coaches at 150kmph. The train is expected to switch to HOG, where power for Hotel Load of the train is drawn from locomotive after commissioning of HOG fit WAP-5 locomotive.

Loco 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
EOGE1E2C1C2C3C4C5C6C7C8C9C10C11C12C13C14EOG

See also

References

  1. ↑ "India's fastest train flagged off". rediff.com. 2006-02-15. Retrieved 2012-03-22.
  2. ↑ "[IRFCA] Railway Ministers". irfca.org.
  3. ↑ Chirdeep Bagga (2006-02-17). "Fastest train claim gone in 60 seconds". The Times of India. Retrieved 2012-03-22.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.