Punjab Mail

Punjab Mail
Overview
Service type Superfast
First service 1 June 1912 as Punjab Limited
Current operator(s) Central Railway
Route
Start Mumbai CST
Stops 56 as 12137 Punjab Mail, 54 as 12138 Punjab Mail
End Firozpur Cantonment
Distance travelled 1,930 km (1,199 mi)
Service frequency Daily
On-board services
Class(es) AC 1st Class, AC 2 tier, AC 3 tier, Sleeper Class, General Unreserved and a Military Reserved coach
Seating arrangements Yes
Sleeping arrangements Yes
Catering facilities Pantry Car attached
Observation facilities 11027/11028 Mumbai Chennai Mail
Technical
Rolling stock Standard Indian Railway coaches
Track gauge 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in)
Operating speed 110 km/h (68 mph) maximum
56.83 km/h (35 mph), including halts

The 12137/12138 Punjab Mail is a Superfast express train of Indian Railways - Central Railway zone that runs between Mumbai and Ferozpur in India. It operates as train number 12137 from Mumbai CST to Ferozpur and as train number 12138 in the reverse direction. It is among the two daily trains that connect Mumbai and Firozpur, the other being the Firozpur Janata Express.

History

This is one of the oldest running train in India since 1912 (106 years old).The inaugural run of the Punjab Mail is thought to have taken place on 1 June 1912. Then known as The Punjab Limited, the train initially ran from Ballard Pier to Peshawar, taking British officers, civil servants, and their families directly from their ships to Delhi and the North-West frontier of British India.This train is older than the Grand Trunk Express which started on 1 January 1929.

In 1914, the originating station was moved to Victoria Terminus, and after the partition of India in 1947, the train's terminus was brought back to Firozpur on the India-Pakistan border.[1]

Coaches

The 12137/12138 Punjab Mail presently has 1 AC 1st Class cum AC 2 tier coach, 1 AC 2 tier coach, 1 AC 2 cum AC 3 tier coach, 5 AC 3 tier coaches, 10 Sleeper Class coaches, 3 General Unreserved coaches & 1 Pantry Car.

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

It also carries a Railway Mail coach thus earning it the title of "Mail" in its name.

12138 Punjab Mail - AC 1st cum AC 2 tier coach
12138 Punjab Mail - AC 3 tier cum AC 2 tier coach
12138 Punjab Mail - Sleeper Class coach

Service

The 12137 Punjab Mail covers the distance of 1930 kilometres in 34 hours 00 mins (56.76 km/hr) & in 33 hours 55 mins as 12138 Punjab Mail (56.90 km/hr).

As the average speed of the train is above 55 km/h (34 mph), as per Indian Railway rules, its fare includes a Superfast surcharge.

Traction

Earlier, it was hauled by 3 locomotives during its journey. A dual traction WCAM 3 locomotive from Kalyan shed hauled the train from Mumbai CST to Igatpuri after which a Ghaziabad based WAP 4 would haul the train until New Delhi following which a WDP 4 from Bhagat Ki Kothi shed hauls the train for the remainder of the journey until Firozpur Cantonment.

As Central railways completed its DC-AC conversion on 6 June 2015 and railway line from New Delhi to Bathinda jn(Punjab) become electrified on 15August 2018,,now it is hauled by Tuglakabad based locomotive WAP 7 fastest in terms of passenger trains from Mumbai CST until Bathinda jn following which a WDP 4D from Howrah shed hauls the train for the remainder of the journey until Firozpur Cantonment.

References

  1. ↑ "Punjab Mail". IRFCA.
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