Agnibina Express

Agnibina Express

Overview
Service type	Superfast Express
Locale	West Bengal
First service	15 August 1976;49 years ago (1976-08-15)
Current operator	Eastern Railway
Route
Termini	Howrah (HWH) Asansol (ASN)
Stops	6
Distance travelled	200 km (124 mi)
Average journey time	3 hours 10 minutes
Service frequency	Daily [a]
Train number	12341 / 12342
On-board services
Classes	AC Chair Car, Second Seating, General Unreserved
Seating arrangements	Yes
Sleeping arrangements	No
Catering facilities	E-catering only
Observation facilities	Large windows
Baggage facilities	Available
Other facilities	Below the seats
Technical
Rolling stock	LHB coach
Track gauge	1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in)
Operating speed	63 km/h (39 mph) avg 130 km/h (81 mph) max

The 12341 / 12342 Agnibina Express is a daily superfast train that runs in the state of West Bengal, between Howrah Junction and Asansol Junction. The train belongs to Eastern Railway, maintained at Howrah. It connects the major coal and steel industrial cities of Asansol, Raniganj, Andal and Durgapur to the capital city of Kolkata, and is therefore, a very important train on the route for daily passengers.

Initially known as the Asansol Express, the train was renamed the Agnibina Express as a tribute to Kazi Nazrul Islam, whose birthplace is near Asansol and whose first poetry book was titled Agnibina . However, unofficially, the train is often referred to as the Bidhan Express.

Route and halts

• Howrah Junction
• Barddhaman Junction
• Mankar
• Panagarh
• Durgapur
• Andal Junction
• Raniganj
• Asansol Junction

Schedule

Agnibina Express runs 7 days a week in both directions. 12342 departs Asansol Jn at 05:30 and reaches Howrah Jn at 08:50, while 12341 departs Howrah Jn at 18:20 and reaches Asansol Jn at 21:30, covering 200 km in 3 hours and 10–20 minutes. The average speed remains around 60–63 km/h (37–39 mph), and the maximum permissible speed is 130 km/h (81 mph) throughout its journey.

12342

Sl No.	Station code	Station name	Time (IST)	Distance (KM)	Day
1	ASN	Asansol Junction	05:30	0 (Source)	1
2	RNG	Raniganj	05:41	19	1
3	UDL	Andal Junction	05:48	26	1
4	DGR	Durgapur	06:01	43	1
5	PAN	Panagarh	06:15	58	1
6	MNAE	Mankar	06:25	68	1
7	BWN	Barddhaman Junction	07:05	106	1
8	HWH	Howrah	09:00	200 (Destination)	1

12341

Sl No.	Station code	Station name	Time (IST)	Distance (KM)	Day
1	HWH	Howrah Junction	18:20	0 (Source)	1
2	BWN	Barddhaman Junction	19:17	95	1
3	MNAE	Mankar	19:52	132	1
4	PAN	Panagarh	20:02	143	1
5	DGR	Durgapur	20:15	159	1
6	UDL	Andal Junction	20:29	175	1
7	RNG	Raniganj	20:42	182	1
8	ASN	Asansol Junction	21:30	200 (Destination)	1

Coach composition and Rake Sharing

The train consists of 18 coaches which includes 2 air-conditioned chair cars, 5 second seating chair cars, 10 general cars (including 1 SLR and 1 LDS) and 1 EOG cum luggage break van. The train has run with LHB rakes since 2018.

It shares its rakes with the Shantiniketan Express and the Coalfield Express.

Traction

It is hauled by a Howrah-based WAP-7 or WAP-5 locomotive throughout its entire journey.

Notes

The train started as Chittaranjan–Howrah Bidhan Express, but was later temporarily terminated at Asansol for operational reasons during the 1970s.

See also

• Howrah Junction railway station
• Asansol Junction railway station
• Shantiniketan Express
• Coalfield Express
• Black Diamond Express

External links

• 12341/Agnibina (Bidhan) Express India Rail Info
• 12342/Agnibina (Bidhan) Express India Rail Info

References

1. Runs seven days in a week for every direction.