Ajmer–Rameswaram Humsafar Express

The 20973/20974 Firozpur – Rameswaram Humsafar Express is an express train of the Indian Railways connecting Firozpur Cantonment with Rameswaram. It is currently being operated with 20973/20974 train numbers on a weekly basis.

Firozpur – Rameswaram Humsafar Express
Overview
Service typeHumsafar Express
LocalePunjab,Haryana Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh & Tamil Nadu
First service
Current operator(s)Northern Railway
Route
TerminiFirozpur Cantonment (FZR)
Rameswaram (RMM)
Stops41
Distance travelled3,543 km (2,202 mi)
Average journey time60.5 hours (Approx.)
Service frequencyWeekly[lower-alpha 2]
Train number(s)20973 / 20974
Line(s) used
  • Ajmer–Bhopal Line (AIITooltip Ajmer Junction railway station – BPLTooltip Bhopal Junction railway station)
  • Bhopal–Nagpur section (BPLTooltip Bhopal Junction railway station – NGPTooltip Nagpur Junction railway station)
  • Nagpur–Hyderabad line (NGPTooltip Nagpur Junction railway station – KZTTooltip Kazipet Junction railway station)
  • Kazipet–Vijayawada section (KZTTooltip Kazipet Junction railway station – BZATooltip Vijayawada Junction railway station)
  • Vijayawada–Gudur section (BZATooltip Vijayawada Junction railway station – GDRTooltip Gudur Junction railway station)
  • Gudur–Chennai section (GDRTooltip Gudur Junction railway station – KOKTooltip Korukkupet railway station)
  • North Line (KOKTooltip Korukkupet railway station – MSBTooltip Chennai Beach railway station)
  • South Line (MSBTooltip Chennai Beach railway station – VMTooltip Viluppuram Junction railway station)
  • Chord Line (VMTooltip Viluppuram Junction railway station – TPJTooltip Tiruchirappalli Junction railway station)
  • Tiruchirappalli–Manamadurai Line (TPJTooltip Tiruchirappalli Junction railway station – MNMTooltip Manamadurai Junction railway station)
  • Manamadurai–Rameswaram branch line (MNMTooltip Manamadurai Junction railway station – RMMTooltip Rameswaram railway station)
On-board services
Class(es)
Disabled accessDisabled access
Seating arrangementsNo
Sleeping arrangementsCouchette car
Catering facilitiesOn-board Catering
Observation facilitiesLarge windows
Baggage facilitiesOverhead racks
Baggage carriage
Technical
Rolling stockLHB Humsafar
Track gauge1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in)
Electrification25 kV AC, 50 Hz
Operating speed57 km/h (35 mph)
Rake maintenanceFirozpur Cantonment

Background

The inaugural service, bearing train number No.09603 of this service was launched on 27 September 2018 at (Laxmibai Nagar Junction) by Speaker of the Lok Sabha, Sumitra Mahajan.[1][2][3] The regular services are scheduled to commencing from 2 October 2018 at Rameswaram on every Tuesdays and 6 October 2018 at Ajmer Junction on every Saturdays bearing train numbers 20974 and 20973 respectively.[4][5] At present, It is the only train which is running between Indore to Southern Part of Tamil Nadu.

It was then extended to Firozpur Cantonment from 2 October 2023.

Rakes

The service is completely fitted with 3-tier AC coaches designed by Indian Railways with features like LED screen display to show information about stations, train speed and will have announcement system as well, Vending machines for tea, coffee and milk, Bio toilets in compartments as well as CCTV cameras.[6][7][8] Apart from 16 AC 3-tier coaches earmarked for passengers, the train will also have 1 Pantry Car and 2 End-on Generator coaches.[3][9]

Route

This weekly service originates every Saturday traverses about 3,431 km (2,132 mi) through Bathinda Junction, Hanumangarh, Churu Junction, Jaipur Junction, Chittaurgarh Junction, Ratlam Junction, Fatehabad Chandrawatiganj Junction, Laxmibai Nagar Junction (Indore Suburban),[lower-alpha 3] Dewas Junction, Bhopal Junction, Itarsi Junction, Nagpur Junction, Balharshah Junction, Vijayawada Junction, Gudur Junction, Chennai Egmore, Viluppuram Junction,Tiruchirappalli Junction and Manamadurai Junction reaching on Tuesdays. On the return journey, it leaves the same Tuesday traverses the same route and reaches Firozpur Cantonment on Fridays.[4] It takes 62 hours approximately to completely the service at a rate of 57 km/h (35 mph).[5][9]

Reversals and Loco Changes

This train has no Rake Sharing and running with Single dedicated rake.

REVERSALS

This train reverses direction in three places,

Churu Junction

Jaipur Junction

Laxmibai Nagar Junction (Indore).

LOCO CHANGES

Bhagat Ki Kothi based WDP 4D will usually haul this train between Firozpur Cantonment and Jaipur Junction.

From Jaipur Junction, Bhagat Ki Kothi based WAP 7 will lead this train till Tiruchchirappalli Junction.

Then GOC based WDG 3A or WDP 4 will take in charge of this train from Tiruchchirappalli Junction to Rameswaram.

Demands

There are also demands for this train to make a stop at Ramanathapuram, Paramakudi, Sivagangai Karaikudi Junction, Pudukkottai and Vriddhachalam Junction.[10] as this train runs with low patronage between Chennai Egmore and Rameswaram.

See also

Notes
  1. Scheduled date of commencement
  2. Train.No.20973 on Saturdays and Train.No.20974 on Tuesdays
  3. The service reverses its rakes to continue the journey.

References
  1. Western Railway zone [@WesternRly] (27 September 2018). "Moving towards better connectivity & infrastructure. Smt. @S_MahajanLS to start new Ajmer-Rameshwaram Humsafar Exp via Ratlam-Laxmibai Nagar(Indore). Also laying of foundation stone for proposed station building at Dr. Ambedkar Nagar & Tunnel T1 on new Indore-Dahod rail line" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 30 December 2018. Retrieved 29 September 2018 – via Twitter.
  2. Western Railway zone [@WesternRly] (27 September 2018). "A new train, Ajmer-Rameshwaram Humsafar Express, was flagged off through video conferencing by Speaker, Lok Sabha Smt. Sumitra Mahajan. This train will run via Ratlam-Laxmibai Nagar (Indore), benefitting the passengers with direct connectivity to Rameshwaram. @RatlamDRM" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 30 December 2018. Retrieved 29 September 2018 – via Twitter.
  3. Devanjana, Nag (27 September 2018). "Indian Railways to introduce Humsafar Express between Ajmer-Rameswaram; 5 things to know about the new train". Financial Express. Archived from the original on 26 October 2018. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
  4. "New express train between Ajmer Jn-Rameswaram". United News of India. Hyderabad. 26 September 2018. Archived from the original on 26 October 2018. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
  5. South Central Railway zone [@SCRailwayIndia] (26 September 2018). "#Introduction of New #Humsafar Weekly Express between Ajmer Jn – Rameswaram (via Vijayawada) @RailMinIndia" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 30 December 2018. Retrieved 29 September 2018 – via Twitter.
  6. "First look of Humsafar Express: An all new 3-Tier AC train". The Economic Times. PTI. 15 September 2016. Archived from the original on 29 September 2018. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
  7. "Indian Railways introduce upgraded 'Humsafar Express' coaches". Business Standard. New Delhi: Press Trust of India. 14 June 2017. Archived from the original on 30 September 2018. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
  8. "Minister of Railways Flags Off Country's First Humsafar Train". Ministry of Railways. New Delhi: Press Information Bureau. 16 December 2016. Archived from the original on 30 September 2018. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
  9. "New train from Rameswaram to Ajmer". The Hindu. 29 September 2018. Archived from the original on 30 December 2018. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
  10. Correspondent, Special (26 June 2019). "Karti Chidambaram for re-scheduling of some trains". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 31 December 2021.
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