Netaji Express

Last updated

Netaji Express
Kalka Mail.jpg
Netaji Express at Kalka railway station.
Overview
Service type Mail/Express
Locale West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Punjab & Haryana
First service1 July 1855;169 years ago (1855-07-01)
Current operator(s) Eastern Railway
Route
Termini Howrah (HWH)
Kalka (KLK)
Stops38
Distance travelled1,715 km (1,066 mi)
Average journey time29 hrs 05 mins as 12311, 32 hrs 10 mins as 12312
Service frequencyDaily
Train number(s)12311/12312
On-board services
Class(es) AC first , AC 2 tier, AC 3 tier, Sleeper Class, General Unreserved
Seating arrangementsYes
Sleeping arrangementsYes
Catering facilitiesAvailable
Observation facilitiesLarge windows
Baggage facilitiesAvailable
Other facilitiesBelow the seats
Technical
Rolling stock ICF coach
Track gauge 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in)
Operating speed120 km/h (75 mph) maximum,
59 km/h (37 mph) average including halts.

The 12311 / 12312 Netaji Express (formerly known as Kalka Mail) is one of the oldest running train in India. This train connects Howrah in Kolkata, capital of the State of West Bengal to Kalka in the North-Western state of Haryana. Kalka is the railhead for the Kalka-Shimla Railway which connects to Shimla, the one time summer capital of the British Raj.

Contents

Overview

Netaji Express (formerly known as Kalka Mail) at present is one of the oldest trains running in the country, it has a total of 24 coaches (eleven Sleeper Class coaches, two SLR coaches, two General Class coaches, one First AC-cum-AC Two Tier coach, three AC Three Tier coaches , three AC Two Tier coaches , one Second class-seating and one Pantry Car) and has total four Rakes. This train is categorized as superfast-mail and runs at a maximum speed of 110 km/hrs. The train stops at 37 stations in its entire route, thus passengers boarding the train have to abide by distance restriction (the minimum travel distance is 160 km in all AC classes and 480 km in Sleeper and 2S). However, it carries all passengers on the Delhi-Kalka route.

Due to the passenger demand, one AC Two Tier Coach, one AC Three Tier Coach, five Sleeper Class coach, one General Class coach, the RMS coach, one SLR coach and the Pantry Car is separately reserved for the passengers boarding from Chandigarh Junction only. Hence these eleven coaches are attached during the journey towards Howrah in Chandigarh and is detached during its journey towards Kalka in Chandigarh itself.

History

In the late 1850s, the British Government in India decided to relocate their capital from Calcutta to Shimla during the summer months to protect the European population from the intense heat of the Bengal plains. To facilitate the annual migration of British officials, their families, and accompanying staff between the imperial capital at Calcutta and the summer capital in Shimla, the East Indian Railway Company inaugurated a train service on July 1, 1855. Departing from Howrah Railway Station, the service was designated as 1 UP (Up Line) / 2 DN (Down Line), known as the East Indian Railway Mail. Initially, this service operated exclusively between Howrah and Delhi. [1]

The extension of the Ambala – Kalka railway line in 1891 enabled the East Indian Railway Mail to extend its route to Kalka. The subsequent opening of the Kalka – Shimla route on November 7, 1903, facilitated the further extension of the train service to Shimla, involving a gauge change at Kalka. Passengers traveling to Shimla from Kalka transitioned from a broad gauge train to a narrow gauge East Indian Railway Mail for the final leg of the journey. Notably, both Howrah and Kalka stations featured internal carriageways along the platforms to allow the Viceroy and other dignitaries to access their rail coaches directly. The carriageway at Howrah remains in use between Platforms 8 and 9, while the carriageway at Kalka has been repurposed into a platform. [2]

Over time, as railway services evolved across British India and the capital permanently shifted from Calcutta to Delhi in 1911, the East Indian Railway Mail experienced a decline in its patronage. Consequently, during the railway system's modernization in the 1990s, the iconic designation 01 UP / 02 DN was discontinued. In 2021, the train service was renamed the "Netaji Express" in tribute to the revered Indian freedom fighter, Subhas Chandra Bose, who utilized this train to escape from Gomoh to Peshawar. [3]

Traction

As the route is fully electrified, it is hauled by a Howrah Loco Shed based WAP-7 electric locomotive from end to end.

Kalka Mail is featured in a short story by Satyajit Ray, the Indian film director and writer. In the story, The Mystery of the Kalka Mail (Baksho Rahasya), the three main characters travel from Calcutta to Delhi and on to Kalka on the train. The plot involves a stolen diamond and an unpublished manuscript. [4] The story was also made into a radio play and a film.

Renaming

Kalka Mail was renamed to Netaji Express in honour of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose to commemorate his 124th Birth Anniversary on 23 January 2021. [5]

Accidents

Fatehpur derailment, 2011

15 coaches of the Kalka Mail derailed on the Kanpur-Fatehpur line near the Fatehpur railway station on the afternoon of 10 July 2011. Causation is unsolved though poor maintenance of the locomotive is suspected because the engine had begun swaying sideways just before the accident. More than 69 persons died and 200 were injured. The injured were taken to hospitals in Kanpur, Lucknow and Allahabad. [6] [7]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Northern Railway zone</span> Northernmost railway zone of India

The Northern Railway (NR) is one of the 19 Railway zones of India and the northernmost zone of the Indian Railways. It is headquartered at Baroda House in New Delhi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kalka–Shimla Railway</span> Heritage rail line in North India

The Kalka–Shimla Railway is a 2 ft 6 in narrow-gauge railway in North India which traverses a mostly mountainous route from Kalka to Shimla. It is known for dramatic views of the hills and surrounding villages. The railway was built under the direction of Herbert Septimus Harington between 1898 and 1903 to connect Shimla, the summer capital of India during the British Raj, with the rest of the Indian rail system.

<i>Howrah–New Delhi Rajdhani Express</i> (via Gaya) Train in India

The 12301 / 12302 Howrah–New Delhi Rajdhani Express is a Rajdhani class train of Indian Railways that connects that capital of West Bengal, Kolkata to the national capital of India, Delhi. This is the first Rajdhani Express of India and is one of the fastest trains of Indian Railways in Kolkata to Delhi route. Not only in Kolkata to Delhi route, it is also the fastest train in Howrah Railways Station.It connects the Howrah Railways Station in Kolkata to the New Delhi Railway Station in Delhi. Howrah Rajdhani Express is the Fastest Train From Howrah to New delhi and vice versa covering the distance of 1450 km in just 17 hours.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mumbai Central–New Delhi Tejas Rajdhani Express</span> Train in India

The 12951 / 12952 Mumbai Central – New Delhi Tejas Rajdhani Express is a Rajdhani class train of Indian Railways, that connects Mumbai Central (MMCT) and New Delhi (NDLS) in India. It is the fastest Tejas Rajdhani Express Rajdhani service in all of India, with an average speed of 89 km / hr and maximum permissible speed of 140 km/h. It is widely regarded as one of the most premium trains on the Indian Railway network and is given the highest priority in terms of clearance. It was the second Rajdhani Express train in India to be introduced after the Howrah Rajdhani Express.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Duronto Express</span> Series of Express train in India

Duronto Express, translating to "Speedster" in Bengali, is a class of long-distance rapid trains operated by Indian Railways. Initially conceived to operate non-stop between origin and destination stations, since January 2016, these trains have been permitted to make additional commercial stops and accept ticket bookings from technical halts. Before the introduction of trains like the Gatimaan Express and Vande Bharat Express, Duronto trains held the distinction of being the fastest trains in India. Unlike its counterpart, the Rajdhani Express, which links India's capital, Delhi, to state capitals, the Duronto Express connects major metropolitan areas, state capitals, and the national capital.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Punjab Mail</span> Train in India

The 12137 / 12138 Punjab Mail is a Mail 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.

The 12427 / 12428 Rewa–Anand Vihar Terminal Superfast Express is a daily Superfast Express train of the Indian Railways, running between Rewa, a city of Madhya Pradesh and Anand Vihar Terminal of Delhi with LHB coaches which are more safe than normal ICF coaches. The train originally used to run from New Delhi Railway Station before being shifted to Anand Vihar station on 2 September 2012. The train is operated by the Northern Railway zone of Indian Railways on the section which is part of the busy Howrah–Delhi main line. It is, along with the prestigious Shaan - E - Bhopal Express, one of the "first" ISO 9002 certified trains of India because of its security features and high priority on the Indian Railways. But it takes two hours more than Rajdhani Express to cover the same distance. It is also slower than some other Superfast trains in this section, but has one of highest commercial speeds among Non-Rajdhani trains.

The Fatehpur derailment was the derailment of the train Kalka Mail near Fatehpur, Uttar Pradesh, India on Sunday, 10 July 2011. Seventy people were killed and more than 300 injured in the derailment. Sources said that the train derailed following the sudden use of the emergency brake.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amritsar Mail</span> Train in India

The 13005 / 13006 Amritsar Mail, colloquially known as the Punjab Mail in the eastern part of India, is a superfast mail train operated by the Eastern Railway Zone of Indian Railways. This train serves as a vital link connecting the capital city of West Bengal, Kolkata, with the historic and revered pilgrimage city of Amritsar in India. It operates under the train numbers 13005 from Howrah Junction in Kolkata to Amritsar Junction, and 13006 on its return journey.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Howrah–New Delhi main line</span> Railway line connecting Delhi and Kolkata

The Howrah–New Delhi main line is a railway line connecting Delhi and Kolkata cutting across northern India. The 1,531 km (951 mi) railway line was opened to traffic in 1866 with the introduction of the "1 Down/2 Up Mail" train.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Poorva Express (via Patna)</span> Train in India

The 12303 / 12304 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mumbai CSMT–Howrah Duronto Express</span> Train in India

The 12261 / 12262 Mumbai CSMT–Howrah AC Duronto Express is a Duronto Express train operating on the Mumbai–Howrah route.

<i>Padatik Express</i> Train in India

The 12377 / 12378 Padatik Express is a daily Superfast train which runs between Sealdah and New Alipurduar in West Bengal.

The 22455 / 22456 Sainagar Shirdi–Kalka Superfast Express is a Express train belonging to Indian Railways Northern Railway zone that run between Sainagar Shirdi and Kalka in India.

Howrah–Mumbai CSMT Mail, with train numbers 12321 and 12322 also known as Calcutta Mail during the pre-independence era, is a daily train running between two metro cities Kolkata, in West Bengal and Mumbai CSMT in Maharashtra. The train belongs to the Mail category and is operated by Indian Railways, with maintenance done and rolling stock provided by Eastern Railway.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kalka railway station</span> Railway station in Himachal Pradesh

Kalka Railway Station, at Kalka in Haryana state of India, is the northern terminus of the Delhi–Kalka line and the starting point of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Kalka–Shimla Railway. It serves passengers moving on to Delhi & Shimla.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kalka Shatabdi Express</span> Shatabdi Express train in India

The 12011/12012 Kalka Shatabdi Express is a Superfast Express train of Shatabdi class belonging to Indian Railways that runs between New Delhi and Kalka in India. It is a daily service. It operates as train number 12011 from New Delhi railway station to Kalka railway station and as train number 12012 in the reverse direction. The train is mostly used by tourists, along with Netaji Express, en route to Shimla. Thus, gaining its international patronage.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yoga Express</span> Train in India

The 19031 / 19032 Yoga Express is an express train belonging to Indian Railways that runs between Ahmedabad and Rishikesh in India. It is a daily service. It operates as train number 19031 from Ahmedabad to Rishikesh and as train number 19032 in the reverse direction.

The 14095 / 14096 Himalayan Queen Express is an Express train belonging to Indian Railways – Northern Railway zone that runs between Delhi Sarai Rohilla and Kalka in India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grand Trunk Express</span> Train in India

The 12615 / 12616 Grand Trunk Express is a daily Superfast Express train on Indian Railways, running between New Delhi and Chennai Central. From February 2024, the train is starting from Tambaram. It is a historic train and is one of the oldest trains starting services in 1929. It originally ran between Peshawar in the North West Frontier Province and Mangalore Central in the Madras Presidency. From September 2021, it runs with modern new LHB coach with revised coach position.

References

  1. ↑ https://www.tribuneindia.com/2002/20020420/windows/main2.htm [ bare URL ]
  2. ↑ https://www.tribuneindia.com/2002/20020420/windows/main2.htm [ bare URL ]
  3. ↑ Livemint (20 January 2021). "Indian Railways renames iconic Howrah-Kalka Mail as 'Netaji Express'". mint. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  4. ↑ "The Feluda Films of Satyajit Ray". h2g2. Retrieved 28 January 2014.
  5. ↑ indianexpress.com (20 January 2021). "Railways renames Howrah-Kalka Mail as Netaji Express".
  6. ↑ indianexpress.com (12 July 2011). "Toll climbs to 70, 300 injured" . Retrieved 28 January 2014.
  7. ↑ "Kalka Train Accident by OneIndia". OneIndia. Retrieved 28 January 2014.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.