Poorva Express (via Patna)

The Poorva Express are daily superfast express trains of Indian Railways running between Howrah, West Bengal, and New Delhi, the capital city of India. The name Poorva signifies the eastern part of India, and the train attracts travellers from Bihar, Jharkhand & West Bengal. The maximum permissible speed of 12303/12304 Poorva Express (Via Patna) is between Chipyana Buzurg (near Ghaziabad) and Pt Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Jn (formerly known as Mughalsarai Jn) and that of 12381/12382 Poorva Express (Via Varanasi) is between Chipyana Buzurg (near Ghaziabad) and Prayagraj Jn. (formerly known as Allahabad Jn.) The maximum permissible speed of both is 130 km/h (81 mph).[1] [2]

Poorva Express
Overview
Service typeSuperfast Express
LocaleDelhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand & West Bengal
First service2 October 1956 (1956-10-02)
Current operator(s)Eastern Railways
Route
StartHowrah (HWH)
Stops22
EndNew Delhi (NDLS)
Distance travelled1,531 km (951 mi)
Average journey time21 hours 50 minutes
Service frequencyDaily
Train number(s)12303 / 12304
On-board services
Class(es)First AC, Second AC, Third AC, Sleeper Class, General Unreserved
Seating arrangementsYes
Sleeping arrangementsYes
Auto-rack arrangementsYes
Catering facilitiesPantry car attached,
On-board Catering,
E-Catering
Observation facilitiesLarge windows
Baggage facilitiesAvailable
Technical
Rolling stockLHB Coaches
Track gauge1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in)
Operating speed69 km/h (43 mph) average with halts

History

Prior to the introduction of the Rajdhani Express, the Deluxe Express was the premium category superfast trains of India. Fully air conditioned and superfast, they were given the highest priority in Indian Railways. There were two of them. One use to imply between Amritsar and Bandra, and another from Amritsar to Howrah. Both of them use to carry the ICF Rajdhani liveried coaches. Later with due course of time the Deluxe Express till Bandra was renamed as Paschim Express while the Deluxe Express till Howrah Express was renamed as Poorva Express.

With due course of time, the "fully Air Conditioned" was stripped off from its name to accommodate additional Non-AC sleeper Coaches and was subsequently terminated till New Delhi. And with the launch of trains like Udyan Abha Toofan Express and Howrah Rajdhani Express, it lost its grandeur and subsequently its priority. It was relegated to Maroon-cream coloured Coaches first and then to Standard Blue ICF Coaches later before getting refurbished to LHB Coaches in 2013.

Though it suffered with time, but its popularity never ceased. Due to its huge demand, Indian Railways introduced a second pair of Poorva Express on 1 August 1971 via Patna. Not only that, during its peak time it was one of the longest train with a load of 24 coaches and was used to be hauled by twin WDM-2 engines between Mughalsarai and Chittaranjan.

Coach composition

The train has standard LHB rakes with a max speed of 130 km/h. The train consist of 22 coaches:

  • 1HA ( 1st AC cum 2A)
  • 2 AC II Tier
  • 5 AC III Tier
  • 9 Sleeper Coaches
  • 1 Pantry Car
  • 2 General Unreserved
  • 2 HOG
Loco 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22
EOGGSGSS1S2S3S4S5S6S7S8S9PCHA1B1B2B3B4B5A1A2EOG

Route & Halts

Locomotive

It is regularly hauled by a Howrah based WAP 7 (HOG) equipped locomotive on its entire journey.

Rake Sharing

The train shares its rake with 12381/12382 Poorva Express (via Gaya).

Train detail
Detail of Poorva Express
Pair Train No. Sector Departure Arrival Frequency Average Speed Stops Distance
112303[3]Howrah – New Delhi Via Patna08:0006:05 (reaches NEW DELHI 2.5 hrs of average delay)Mon, Tue, Fri, Sat70 kmBWN, DGR, ASN, CRJ, MDP, JSME, JAJ, JMU, KIUL, MKA, BARH, BKP, PNBE, DNR, ARA, BXR, DDU, ALD, CNB, ETW, TDL,ALJN1531 km
12304[4]New Delhi – Howrah Via Patna17:3517:15 ( reaches HOWRAH Jn. 2 hrs of Average delay)Wed, Thu, Sat, Sun65 km
212381[5]Howrah – New Delhi Via Gaya08:1506:05Sun, Wed, Thu66 kmALJN, TDL, ETW, CNB, ALD, BSB, DDU, BBU,SSM, DOS, ABUR, RFG, GAYA, KQR, PNME, DHN, ASN, DGR, BWN1449 km
12382[6]New Delhi – Howrah Via Gaya17:3517:15Mon, Tue, Fri62 km

Accidents and incidents

On 14 December 2014 the 12381 UP Howrah - New Delhi Poorva Express derailed at 8.27 am after leaving Howrah at 8.15 am.[7] 11 sleeper coaches and a pantry car (AC Hot Buffet Car) of the New Delhi-bound Poorva Express derailed at Liluah shortly after leaving Howrah station. There were no casualties or injuries to any passengers, railway officials said. The train was moving at a slow speed when it derailed, the officials said, adding that the reasons for the mishap were being examined. What saved the passengers was the speed of the train. "The Poorva Express was moving at 10 to 15 km/h when the accident occurred. The average speed of the train is 63 km/h, though it can travel at 120 km/h. Derailment at higher speeds would have been catastrophic," an official said.

References
  1. "Sanction for regular operation". Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  2. "Raising maximum permissible speed of sections" (PDF). Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  3. "Train Time Table - POORVA EXPRESS (12303) : etrain.info". etrain.info. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
  4. "Train Time Table - POORVA EXPRESS (12304) : etrain.info". etrain.info. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
  5. "Train Time Table - POORVA EXPRESS (12381) : etrain.info". etrain.info. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
  6. "Train Time Table - POORVA EXPRESS (12382) : etrain.info". etrain.info. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
  7. "Train jumps tracks like a toy". telegraphindia.com. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
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