Ajanta Express

The 17063/64 Ajanta Express is an Express train belonging to the South Central Railway Zone that runs between Secunderabad in Telangana and Manmad in Maharashtra in India.

Ajanta Express
Overview
Service typeExpress
LocaleTelangana & Maharashtra
First service1 April 1967 (1967-04-01)
Current operator(s)South Central Railways
Route
TerminiSecunderabad Junction (SC)
Manmad Junction (MMR)
Stops17
Distance travelled620 km (385 mi)
Average journey time12 hours as 17063, 13 hours 15 minutes as 17064
Service frequencyDaily
Train number(s)17063 / 17064
On-board services
Class(es)AC First, AC II Tier, AC III Tier, Sleeper class, General Unreserved
Seating arrangementsYes
Sleeping arrangementsYes
Catering facilitiesPantry Car,
On-Board Catering,
E-catering (available at MMR, AWB, SC for 17063 and at SC, NZB, MMR)
Observation facilitiesRake sharing with 12703/12704 Falaknuma Express
Baggage facilitiesBelow the seats
Technical
Rolling stockICF coach
Track gauge1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) (broad gauge)
Operating speed52 km/h (32 mph) on an average including halts as 17063, 47 km/h (29 mph) on an average including halts as 17064, Maximum permissible speed is 110 km/h (68 mph) between Sivungaon (SVN) and Bolarum (BMO)
Ajanta Express Route map

History

Ajanta Express runs through eastern Maharashtra (Marathwada region) and the north-western region of Telangana. It was known as Kacheguda Express very often by the people travelling on Kacheguda–Nizamabad–Nanded–Parbhani–Aurangabad route on former Hyderabad–Godavari Valley Railways.

The train was introduced on 1st April, 1967 as a metre-gauge train between Kacheguda and Manmad via Nizamabad, Nanded, Parbhani and Aurangabad. The train became popular in a short time as Manmad on 5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) broad gauge was the point to take broad gauge trains to other destinations.

After the track from Manmad to Parbhani was converted to broad gauge in 1992–95 and the track from Parbhani to Mudkhed and Nizamabad was still not converted, the train was re-routed between Kacheguda and Manmad via Bidar and Parbhani in 1995–1996 because the metre gauge had been converted between Vikarabad and Parbhani by then. In 2007, the train again diverted to its old route which had been converted into broad gauge in 2002–2003.

Ajanta Express (Kacheguda–Manmad) was the fastest metre-gauge train in India with an average speed of 42.5 kilometres per hour (26.4 mph) in 1967.[1]

Overview

The train is named after the Ajanta Caves in Aurangabad. It runs daily and connects important stations such as Nizamabad, Nanded, Parbhani, Aurangabad and Nagarsol.

The 17063 Manmad–Secunderabad Ajanta Express has an average speed of 52 km/h and covers 620 km in 12 hours. The 17064 Secunderabad–Manmad Ajanta Express has an average speed of 47 km/h and covers 620 km in 13 hours and 15 minutes.

Timings

The train departs from Secunderabad Junction at 6:50 p.m. and arrives at Manmad Junction at 8:05 a.m. the next day. It departs from Manmad Junction at 8:50 p.m. and arrives at Secunderabad Junction at 8:50 a.m. the next day.

Halts

Classes

The train usually consists of 24 standard ICF coaches:

  • 1 AC first cum II tier
  • 1 AC II tier
  • 5 AC III tiers
  • 12 sleeper classes
  • 1 pantry car
  • 4 second sittings

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

Coach composition
Loco 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24
SLRGENS1S2S3S4S5S6S7S8S9S10S11S12PCS13B1B2B3A1HA1GENGENSLR

Rake sharing

Since 1 January 2018, it started to share its rakes with 12703/04 Falaknuma Express with Primary Maintenance at Secunderabad Junction.

As the route is not completley electrified, Moula Ali (MLY)-based WDM-3A/WDG-3A twins haul the train to complete its full journey.

See also

References
  1. "Chronology of railways in India, Part 4 (1947–1970)". IRFCA Indian Railways Fan Club. 2010. Retrieved 31 March 2013.
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