Akal Takht Express

The 12317 / 12318 Akal Takht Express is an Indian Railways express train connecting eastern Indian city of Kolkata with northern Indian city of Amritsar.

Akal Takht Express
अकाल तख़्त एक्सप्रेस

Amritsar (ASR) bound 12317 Akal Takht Express at Chandanpur, West Bengal
Overview
Service type	Superfast
First service	14 April 2000
Current operator(s)	Eastern Railways
Route
Start	Kolkata (KOAA)
Stops	21
End	Amritsar (ASR)
Distance travelled	1,897 km (1,179 mi)
Average journey time	33 hr 40 min as 12317 33 hr 20 min as 12318
Service frequency	Bi-Weekly
Train number(s)	12317 / 12318
On-board services
Class(es)	AC 1 tier, AC 2 tier, AC 3 tier, Sleeper Class, General Unreserved
Seating arrangements	Yes
Sleeping arrangements	Yes
Auto-rack arrangements	No
Catering facilities	No Pantry Car but E-Catering available
Observation facilities	Rake sharing with 12315/12316 Ananya Express
Baggage facilities	Yes
Technical
Rolling stock	LHB Coaches
Track gauge	1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in)
Electrification	25 kV AC, 50hz
Operating speed	60 km/h (37 mph) average with halts
Route map

Background

Originally starting from Sealdah, its terminus got changed to Kolkata in 2014. It is a superfast class train travelling 1,900 kilometres (1,200 mi) at an average speed of 60 kilometres per hour (37 mph). It has sleeper, third AC, second AC, first AC, and unreserved types of coaches along with 2 EOG for power. This train has modern LHB Coaches, however, pantry car facility is not available with this train but on-board catering and e-catering is available.[1][2]

Route & Halts

The train runs from Kolkata via Asansol, Jasidih, Jhajha, Kiul Junction, Mokama, Patna Junction, Mughalsarai Junction, Varanasi Junction, Sultanpur Junction, Lucknow Charbagh, Moradabad Junction, Najibabad Junction, Saharanpur Junction, Ambala Cantonment, Ludhiana, Jalandhar City to Amritsar.

Coach Composition

The train has standard LHB rakes with max speed of 110 km/h. The train consist of 22 coaches:

• 1 AC I cum AC II Tier
• 1 AC II Tier
• 6 AC III Tier
• 10 Sleeper Coaches
• 2 General
• 2 EOG

Loco	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22		EOG	GEN	GEN	S1	S2	S3	S4	S5	S6	S7	S8	S9	S10	S11	B1	B2	B3	B4	B5	A1	HA1	EOG

Traction

As the route is fully electrified, train is hauled by an Howrah based WAP 7 electric locomotive from Kolkata to Amritsar and vice versa.

Rake Sharing

The train sharing its rake with 12315/12316 Ananya Express.

References

1. "Akal Takht Express/12317 SuperFast Kolkata Sealdah/SDAH to Ambala Cantt./UMB". India Rail Info. 9 November 2012. Retrieved 21 December 2012.
2. "Akal Takht Express/12318 SuperFast Amritsar/ASR to Kolkata Sealdah/SDAH". India Rail Info. 8 October 2012. Retrieved 21 December 2012.