Falaknuma Express

The 12703 / 12704 Falaknuma Express is a Superfast Express train belonging to South Central Railway zone that runs between Secunderabad and Howrah in India. It is currently being operated with 12703/12704 train numbers on daily basis.[1]

Falaknuma Express
फलकनुमा एक्सप्रेस
Overview
Service typeSuperfast
LocaleTelangana, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha & West Bengal
First service15 October 1993
Current operator(s)South Central Railways
Route
StartSecunderabad (SC)
Stops24
EndHowrah (HWH)
Distance travelled1,544 km (959 mi)
Average journey time25 hours 45 minutes
Service frequencyDaily
Train number(s)12703 / 12704
On-board services
Class(es)AC First, AC 2 Tier, AC 3 Tier, Sleeper Class, General Unreserved
Seating arrangementsYes
Sleeping arrangementsYes
Catering facilitiesAvailable
Observation facilitiesRake sharing with 17063/17064 Ajanta Express
Baggage facilitiesBelow the Seats
Technical
Rolling stockICF Coaches
Track gauge1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in)
Broad Gauge
Operating speed110 km/h (68 mph) maximum,
60 km/h (37 mph) average with halts
Route map

Overview

The train is named after the world-famous Falaknuma Palace in Hyderabad, India. Falaknuma is a Persian word (Persian—فلک ا نمایش), which means "Reflections of Sky/Heaven".

It runs daily and connects important stations such as Guntur, Vijayawada, Eluru, Rajahmundry, Vishakhapatnam, Vizianagaram, Bhubaneswar and Kharagpur. It is a fast alternative to other trains such as East Coast Express, Guwahati - Secunderabad Express, Shalimar - Secunderabad AC Superfast Express and Shalimar–Secunderabad Superfast Express. Compared to the other trains from Secunderabad to Kolkata, it covers lesser distance as it runs via the Nalgonda, Guntur route. It is the fastest superfast express between Secunderabad and Visakhapatnam other than Visakhapatnam–Secunderabad Duronto Express & Visakhapatnam–Secunderabad Garib Rath Express. The train runs jampacked throughout the year because people prefer this train as it has lesser halts than other trains on this route. Besides being superfast, the train is most neat and clean after trains like Shatabdi Express, Rajdhani Express and Duronto Express and other superfast trains in India.

The 12703/Howrah-Secunderabad Falaknuma Express has an average speed of 60 km/h and covers 1544 km in 25h 40m. The 12704/Secunderabad-Howrah Falaknuma Express, with the same average speed, covers the same distance in 25h 50m.

Timings

The train departs from Platform #21 of Howrah Junction at 07:25 IST and arrives in Platform #2,6 of Secunderabad Junction at 09:05 IST, the next day. From Platform #1 of Secunderabad, the train departs at 15:55 IST and arrives in Platform #20 of Howrah at 17:45 IST, the next day.

Route & Halts

The train runs from Secunderabad via Nalgonda, Guntur, Vijayawada Junction, Eluru, Tadepalligudem, Rajahmundry, Samalkot, Visakhapatnam Junction, Vizianagaram, Srikakulam Road, Palasa, Brahmapur, Khurda Road Junction, Bhubaneswar, Cuttack Junction, Bhadrak, Balasore, Kharagpur Junction to Howrah.

Classes

The train usually consists of a massive load of 24 standard ICF Coaches:

  • 1 AC First Cum Two Tier
  • 1 AC Two Tier
  • 3 AC Three Tiers
  • 13 Sleeper Classes
  • 1 Pantry Car
  • 3 General (Unreserved)
  • 2 Seating (Disabled/Ladies) Cum Luggage Rakes

As 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
  • 12703/12704 Falaknuma Express Name Boards
  • 12703/12704 Falaknuma Express name plate on SLRD
  • Falaknuma Express at Nalgonda with Kazipet Junction-based twin WDG-3A loco

1. A Lallaguda based WAP 7 / Vijayawada based WAP 4 electric locomotive pulls it from Secunderabad to Visakhapatnam.

2. The train reverses direction at Vishakhapatnam and gets a Santragachi based WAP 4 electric locomotive for the rest way up to Howrah.

Rake sharing

The 12703/12704 Falaknuma Express previously used to share its rakes with 12733/12734 Narayanadri Express (Secunderabad-Tirupati), but now, it shares its rakes 17063/17064 Ajanta Express (Secunderabad-Manmad).

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References
  1. "Train Name Index" (PDF). Portal of Indian Railways. p. 13. Retrieved 31 May 2017.
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