Avantika Express

The 12961 / 12962 Avantika Superfast Express is a Superfast train belonging to Indian Railways that runs between Mumbai Central and Indore Junction in India. It is a daily service. It operates as train number 12961 from Mumbai Central to Indore and as train number 12962 in the reverse direction.

Avantika Superfast Express
Overview
Service typeSuperfast
LocaleMaharashtra, Gujarat & Madhya Pradesh
First service1 May 1985 (1985-05-01)
Current operator(s)Western Railways
Route
TerminiMumbai Central (MMCT)
Indore Junction (INDB)
Stops18
Distance travelled830 km (516 mi)
Average journey time12961 - 12 Hours 10 Minutes
12962 - 13 Hours 5 Minutes
Service frequencyDaily
Train number(s)12961 / 12962
On-board services
Class(es)AC 1st Class, AC 2 tier, AC 3 tier, Sleeper, Unreserved
Seating arrangementsYes
Sleeping arrangementsYes
Catering facilitiesAvailable but no pantry car
Observation facilitiesRake sharing with 12927/12928 Dadar Western-Kevadia Express
Baggage facilitiesAvailable
Technical
Rolling stockLHB coach
Track gauge1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in)
Operating speed130 km/h (81 mph) maximum,
68 km/h (42 mph) average including halts as 12961,
64 km/h (40 mph) average including halts as 12962
Route map
  • AC COACHES
    AC COACHES
  • SLEEPER COACHES
    SLEEPER COACHES
  • GENERATOR CAR
    GENERATOR CAR

Background

When this train was introduced back in 1985 it was called as Bombay–Indore Superfast. Later it was renamed as Avantika Superfast Express. For about a couple of years, in mid 1990s, the termination of train was changed from Mumbai Central to Bandra Terminus (A western Suburban terminus station). The order was reversed and from 1998 the train started going up to Mumbai Central.

The name Avantika is from 'Avanti', the former name of Ujjain, a historical city located near Indore. This is one of the two Superfast train connections between Indore and Mumbai, the other train is Indore Duronto Express.

In February 2019, it was upgraded to LHB coach.[1][2][3]

Coaches

Coach composition may be amended at the discretion of Indian Railways depending on demand. In February 2019, it was upgraded to LHB coach from ICF coach.

Loco 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22
WAP7EOGGSS1S2S3S4S5S6S7S8B1B2 B3 B4 B5 B6 A1 A2 A3 H1 GS SLR

*Note – The coach composition shown here is for 12961 (Mumbai to Indore).For 12962 (Indore to Mumbai) the composition will be flipped.

Service

It is a daily train and covers the distance of 829 kilometres in 12 hours 10 mins as 12961 Avantika Express (68 km/h) and 13 hours 5 mins as 12962 Avantika Express (64 km/h).

Schedule
Train numberStation codeDeparture stationDeparture timeDeparture dayArrival stationArrival timeArrival day
12961MMCTMumbai Central08:55 PMDailyIndore Junction09:55 AMDaily
12962INDBIndore Junction05:35 PMDailyMumbai Central06:30 AMDaily

When Avantika Superfast was first introduced it was hauled by WDM-2 for the whole journey.

After some time, WCAM-1 became its regular link from Mumbai Central till Ujjain, After Ujjain WDM-2 hauled it complete its journey to Indore.

When Mumbai's WR was converted into AC current, WAP-4 took incharge of Avantika till Ujjain. After sometime Ujjain–Indore line got electrified and WAP-4 hauled it for whole journey.

After some years, Avantika SuperFast got India's fastest locomotive WAP-5 for its regular link.

When Avantika SuperFast got upgraded into LHB coach in 2018 February, its regular link also got upgraded into WAP-7 (usually HOG mode).

  • All the diesel locomotives were provided by Ratlam Loco Shed (RTM)
  • All the DC-traction electric locomotives were provided by Valsad Loco Shed (BL)
  • All the AC-traction electric locomotives are provided by Vadodara Loco Shed (BRC)

References
  1. "15 Trains Originating From Indore to be Get LHB coach". News18. 30 September 2021. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
  2. Staff Reporter (31 March 2022). "Indore: Additional coaches will be added to 10 pairs of trains". Free Press Journal. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
  3. Lashkari, Milind R (23 November 2016). "Avantika Express to have LHB coach". Hindustan Times.
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