Howrah–Ranchi Shatabdi Express

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Howrah Ranchi Shatabdi Express
Overview
Service typeSuperfast Express, Shatabdi Express
First service1 July 1995 between Howrah and Bokaro Steel City [5] [6]. Howrah–Bokaro Steel City Shatabdi Express was extended to Ranchi on 28 Oct 2001[1]
Current operator(s)Eastern Railways
Route
StartHowrah Junction
Stops7
EndRanchi Junction
Distance travelled422.8 km (263 mi)
Service frequency6 days a week except Sunday.
Train number(s)12019 / 12020
On-board services
Class(es)Executive Class, AC Chair Car
Seating arrangementsYes
Sleeping arrangementsNo
Catering facilitiesNo pantry car attached but available
Observation facilitiesLHB coaches [7]
Baggage facilitiesOverhead racks
Technical
Rolling stockStandard Indian Railways LHB Shatabdi coaches
Track gauge1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in)
Operating speedThe maximum permisible speed is 130 km/h (81 mph) between Howrah and Dhanbad and the overall average speed is 56.85 km/h (35 mph)

The 12019 / 20 Howrah–Ranchi Junction Shatabdi Express is a Superfast Express train of the Shatabdi Express category belonging to Indian Railways – Eastern Railway zone that runs between Howrah Junction and Ranchi Junction in India.

It operates as train number 12019 from Howrah Junction to Ranchi Junction and as train number 12020 in the reverse direction, serving the states of West Bengal and Jharkhand.

It was revamped to upgrade to "Swarn (Gold)" standard under Indian Railways' ‘Swarn’ project [8] [9] and CCTVs, improved toilets are some of the features of the revamped coaches.

This train will be replaced by Howrah - Ranchi Vande Bharat Express that will have same maximum permissible speed as Howrah - Ranchi Shatabdi Express immediately after replacement which is 130 kmph in one part and less in rest part [10] but Howrah - Ranchi Vande Bharat Express will have better acceleration and deceleration to cut journey time [11].

Coaches[]

The 12019 / 20 Howrah–Ranchi Junction Shatabdi Express presently has two Executive Class, seven AC Chair Car and two End-on Generator coaches. It does not carry a pantry car but being a Shatabdi category train, catering is arranged on board the train;.[2]

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

Service[]

The 12019 Howrah–Ranchi Junction Shatabdi Express covers the distance of 426 kilometres in 07 hours 10 mins averaging 59.44 km/h (37 mph) and in 07 hours 45 mins, 12020 Ranchi–Howrah Shatabdi Express averaging 54.45 km/h (34 mph) covers 422.8 kilometres (as per Ranchi Division map, the four-kilometre difference between two directions is in Kita to Gangaghat hill area between Muri and Ranchi).[3]

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

Speed[]

This train will be replaced by Howrah - Ranchi Vande Bharat Express that will have same maximum permissible speed as Howrah - Ranchi Shatabdi Express immediately after replacement which is 130 kmph in one part and less in rest part [12] but Howrah - Ranchi Vande Bharat Express will have better acceleration and deceleration to cut journey time [13]. Howrah - Ranchi Vande Bharat Express will not be able to touch its 160 kmph maximum speed initially in this route.

All coaches of Howrah Ranchi-Shatabdi Express are of air conditioned LHB coaches type which is capable of reaching 160 kmph but it does not touch. Sometimes people become confused because according to Indian Railways Permanent Way Manual (IRPWM) on Indian Railways website or Indian Railway Institute of Civil Engineering website, the BG (Broad Gauge) lines have been classified into six groups ‘A’ to ‘E’ on the basis of the future maximum permissible speeds but it may not be same as present speed.

The maximum permissible speed of the train is 130 km/h in Howrah Junction (HWH) – Pradhan Khunta (PKA) – Dhanbad Junction 259 km long route which is a part of Howrah–New Delhi route[4][5] and after leaving common part with Howrah–New Delhi route, maximum permissible speed is lower in the rest part as the rest part is not fit for 130 km/h speed and the maximum permissible speed of this train equals to maximum sectional speed. After Dhanbad, the train runs at a low maximum permissible speed through Dhanbad–Chandrapura line of coal-bearing areas. According to East Central Railway System Map (25 May 2021) [6] about 33 km-long Dhanbad (DHN) – Jamuniatand (JNN) – Chandrapura (CRP) (D/L) and about 4.5 km-long Chandrapura (CRP) – Rajabera (RJB) routes have Group E track. So, speed is not more than 100 km/h in these two routes but actual speed can't be told because,[7] the BG lines have been classified into six groups ‘A’ to ‘E’ on the basis of the future maximum permissible speeds and Group ’E’ lines have speed up to 100 km/h (presently, earlier below). According to a Facebook post of South eastern Railway on 20 March 2018, the raising of speed in some important sections are Kotshila–Rajabera is 110 km/h, Muri to Kotshila is 110 km/h – there is another source in support of 110 km/h sectional speed of Kotshila–Bokaro–Rajabera section but not of Muri to Kotshila section.[8] Maximum permissible sectional speed is 105 km/h between Muri and Ranchi having Kita to Gangaghat hill area (Ranchi is on the Hatia – Muri section having 105 km/h sectional speed) [9] but as per another source, maximum permissible speed of Muri Ranchi route is 80 kmph which may be in hilly part only and not in rest parts of Muri - Ranchi route. [14]

Routing[]

The 12019 / 20 Howrah–Ranchi Junction Shatabdi Express runs from Howrah Junction via Durgapur, Asansol Junction, Dhanbad Junction, Bokaro Steel City to Ranchi Junction.

Like most of the Shatabdi class trains, it returns to its originating station Howrah Junction at the end of the day.

Loco link[]

As the route is fully electrified, a Howrah-based WAP-5 / WAP-7 powers the train for its entire journey.

Coach composition[]

Loco 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
BSicon LDER.svg GNV C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 C6 C7 E1 E2 GNV

Achievements[]

Howrah–Ranchi Shatabdi Express was the second cleanest train in the year of 2018 preceded by Pune–Secunderabad Shatabdi Express among 77 premium trains that were surveyed in the year of 2018 by railways. [15]

Reference[]

  1. ^ "South Eastern Railway".
  2. ^ "LHB rake being introduced for Howrah-Ranchi Shatabdi Express".
  3. ^ [1]
  4. ^ [2]
  5. ^ [3]
  6. ^ INDIAN RAILWAYS PERMANENT WAY MANUAL, 2019
  7. ^ INDIAN RAILWAYS PERMANENT WAY MANUAL 2019
  8. ^ [4]
  9. ^ "South Eastern Railway".

External links[]

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