Akal Takht Express
The 12317 / 12318 Akal Takht Express is an Indian Railways express train connecting eastern Indian city of Kolkata with northern Indian city of Amritsar.
 Akal Takht Express train board | |||||
| Overview | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service type | Superfast | ||||
| First service | 14 April 2000 | ||||
| Current operator(s) | Eastern Railways | ||||
| Route | |||||
| Start | Kolkata (KOAA) | ||||
| Stops | 21 | ||||
| End | Amritsar (ASR) | ||||
| Distance travelled | 1,897 km (1,179 mi) | ||||
| Average journey time | 33 hr 40 min as 12317 33 hr 20 min as 12318 | ||||
| Service frequency | Bi-Weekly | ||||
| Train number(s) | 12317 / 12318 | ||||
| On-board services | |||||
| Class(es) | AC 1 tier, AC 2 tier, AC 3 tier, Sleeper Class, General Unreserved | ||||
| Seating arrangements | Yes | ||||
| Sleeping arrangements | Yes | ||||
| Catering facilities | No Pantry Car but E-Catering available | ||||
| Observation facilities | Rake sharing with 12315/12316 Ananya Express | ||||
| Baggage facilities | Available | ||||
| Technical | |||||
| Rolling stock | LHB Coaches | ||||
| Track gauge | 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) | ||||
| Electrification | 25 kV AC, 50hz | ||||
| Operating speed | 60 km/h (37 mph) average with halts | ||||
| |||||
Background
Originally starting from Sealdah, its terminus got changed to Kolkata in 2014. It is a superfast class train travelling 1,900 kilometres (1,200 mi) at an average speed of 60 kilometres per hour (37 mph). It has sleeper, third AC, second AC, first AC, and unreserved types of coaches along with 2 EOG for power. This train has modern LHB Coaches, however, pantry car facility is not available with this train but on-board catering and e-catering is available.[1][2]
Route & Halts
The train runs from Kolkata via Asansol, Jasidih, Jhajha, Kiul Junction, Mokama, Patna Junction, Mughalsarai Junction, Varanasi Junction, Sultanpur Junction, Lucknow Charbagh, Moradabad Junction, Najibabad Junction, Saharanpur Junction, Ambala Cantonment, Ludhiana, Jalandhar City to Amritsar.
Coach Composition
The train has standard LHB rakes with max speed of 110 km/h. The train consist of 22 coaches:
- 1 AC I cum AC II Tier
- 1 AC II Tier
- 6 AC III Tier
- 10 Sleeper Coaches
- 2 General
- 2 EOG
| Loco | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 |  | EOG | GEN | GEN | S1 | S2 | S3 | S4 | S5 | S6 | S7 | S8 | S9 | S10 | S11 | B1 | B2 | B3 | B4 | B5 | A1 | HA1 | EOG |
|---|
Traction
As the route is fully electrified, train is hauled by an Howrah or Sealdah based WAP 7 electric locomotive from Kolkata to Amritsar and vice versa. Sometimes Gomoh or even Santragachi shed WAP 7 is also used as an offlink.
Rake Sharing
The train sharing its rake with 12315/12316 Ananya Express.
References
- "Akal Takht Express/12317 SuperFast Kolkata Sealdah/SDAH to Ambala Cantt./UMB". India Rail Info. 9 November 2012. Retrieved 21 December 2012.
- "Akal Takht Express/12318 SuperFast Amritsar/ASR to Kolkata Sealdah/SDAH". India Rail Info. 8 October 2012. Retrieved 21 December 2012.