Marudhar Express
Earlier when this route was Meter gauge, the Marudhar Express was a YDM4 hauled express passenger services between Jodhpur and Varanasi with Train number 15313/14 via Phulera Jn. - Jaipur Jn. - Bandikui Jn. - Bharatpur Jn. - Achhnera Jn. - Mathura Jn. - Kasganj Jn. - Bareilly Jn. - Pilibhit Jn. - Mailani Jn. - Lakhimpur Kheri - Sitapur Jn. - Aishbagh Jn. - Barabanki Jn. - Jaunpur Jn. - Varanasi Jn. With Second Class Unreserved, Sleeper Class, First Class, AC Sleeper Class (First Class) coaches.
Later as gauge conversion took place, The name 'Marudhar Express' was transferred to Broad Gauge Express and Meter Gauge train ran with name of Bareilly (BRY) - Aishbagh (ASH) Express with same train number 15313/14.
Now, broad gauge Marudhar Express runs on its old route except between Achhnera Jn. and Lucknow Jn.
| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Service type | Express |
| First service | 15 August 1998 |
| Current operator(s) | North Western Railways |
| Route | |
| Start | Jodhpur Junction(JU) |
| Stops | 34 as 14854 Jodhpur Varanasi Marudhar Express, 33 as 14853 Varanasi Jodhpur Marudhar Express, 30 as 14864 Jodhpur Varanasi Marudhar Express, 29 as 14863 Varanasi Jodhpur Marudhar Express, 31 as 14866 Jodhpur Varanasi Marudhar Express, 29 as 14865 Varanasi Jodhpur Marudhar Express. |
| End | Varanasi Junction(BSB) |
| Distance travelled | 1,203 km (748 mi) as 14854 / 53 Jodhpur Varanasi Marudhar Express, 1,161 km (721 mi) as 14864 Jodhpur Varanasi Marudhar Express, 1,163 km (723 mi) as 14863 Varanasi Jodhpur Marudhar Express, 1,179 km (733 mi) as 14866 Jodhpur Varanasi Marudhar Express, 1,181 km (734 mi) as 14865 Varanasi Jodhpur Marudhar Express. |
| Service frequency | 14854 Jodhpur Varanasi Marudhar Express – Monday, Thursday & Saturday, 14853 Varanasi Jodhpur Marudhar Express - Monday, Wednesday & Saturday, 14864 Jodhpur Varanasi Marudhar Express – Tuesday, Friday & Sunday, 14863 Varanasi Jodhpur Marudhar Express - Tuesday, Friday & Sunday, 14866 Jodhpur Varanasi Marudhar Express - Wednesday, 14865 Varanasi Jodhpur Marudhar Express - Thursday. |
| On-board services | |
| Class(es) | AC 2 tier, AC 3 tier, Sleeper Class, General Unreserved |
| Seating arrangements | Yes |
| Sleeping arrangements | Yes |
| Catering facilities | No Pantry car coach attached |
| Observation facilities | Rake Sharing between 14853 / 54 / 63 / 64 / 65 / 66 Jodhpur Varanasi Marudhar Express |
| Technical | |
| Rolling stock | Standard Indian Railway coaches |
| Track gauge | 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) |
| Operating speed | 110 km/h (68 mph) maximum 48.85 km/h (30 mph) as 14854 / 53 Jodhpur Varanasi Marudhar Express, 14864 / 63 Jodhpur Varanasi Marudhar Express – 50.07 km/h (31 mph), 14866 / 65 Jodhpur Varanasi Marudhar Express - 49.86 km/h (31 mph) including halts. |
The 14853 / 54 / 63 / 64 / 65 / 66 Jodhpur Varanasi Marudhar (मरुधर) Express is an Express train belonging to Indian Railways - North Western Railway zone that runs between Jodhpur Junction & Varanasi Junction in India.
It operates as train number 14854 / 64 / 66 from Jodhpur Junction to Varanasi Junction and as train number 14853 / 63 / 65 in the reverse direction serving the states of Uttar Pradesh & Rajasthan. It is the Fastest train between Jaipur and Lucknow and one of the most important train of NWR.
The word Marudhar translates as Master of Air.
Coaches
The 14853 / 54 / 63 / 64 / 65 / 66 Jodhpur Varanasi Marudhar Express has 2 AC 2 tier, 3 AC 3 tier, 12 Sleeper Class, 4 General Unreserved & 2 SLR (Seating cum Luggage Rake) Coaches hence total 23 coaches. It does not carry a Pantry car coach.
As is customary with most train services in India, Coach Composition may be amended at the discretion of Indian Railways depending on demand.
Service
- 14854 Jodhpur Varanasi Marudhar Express covers the distance of 1,203 kilometres (748 mi) in 24 hours 45 mins (48.61 km/hr).
- 14853 Varanasi Jodhpur Marudhar Express covers the distance of 1,203 kilometres (748 mi) in 24 hours 30 mins (49.10 km/hr).
- 14864 Jodhpur Varanasi Marudhar Express covers the distance of 1,161 kilometres (721 mi) in 22 hours 50 mins (50.85 km/hr).
- 14863 Varanasi Jodhpur Marudhar Express covers the distance of 1,163 kilometres (723 mi) in 23 hours 35 mins (49.31 km/hr).
- 14866 Jodhpur Varanasi Marudhar Express covers the distance of 1,179 kilometres (733 mi) in 23 hours 45 mins (49.64 km/hr).
- 14865 Varanasi Jodhpur Marudhar Express covers the distance of 1,181 kilometres (734 mi) in 23 hours 35 mins (50.08 km/hr).
As the average speed of the train is below 55 km/h (34 mph), as per Indian Railway rules, its fare does not include a Superfast surcharge.
Routeing
The 14853 / 54 / 63 / 64 / 65 / 66 Jodhpur Varanasi Marudhar Express runs from Jodhpur Junction via Degana Junction, Jaipur, Bharatpur Junction, Agra Fort, Kanpur Central, Lucknow NR, thereafter Faizabad Junction (14854 / 53) or Sultanpur (14864 / 63) or Rae Bareli Junction (14866 / 65) to Varanasi Junction.
Traction
The entire route is yet to be fully electrified.
- 14854 / 53 / 66 / 65 Jodhpur Varanasi Marudhar Express via Faizabad Junction & Rae Bareli Junction - a Bhagat Ki Kothi based WDP 4 locomotive hauls the train from Jodhpur Junction up to Agra Fort handing over to a Ghaziabad based WAP 4 or WAP 7 locomotive until Lucknow NR following which a Lucknow based WDM 3A locomotive powers the train for the remainder of the journey.
- 14864 / 63 Jodhpur Varanasi Marudhar Express via Sultanpur - a Bhagat Ki Kothi based WDP 4 locomotive hauls the train from Jodhpur Junction up to Agra Fort handing over to a Ghaziabad based WAP 4 or WAP 7 locomotive which powers the train for the remainder of the journey.
Operation
- 14854 Jodhpur Varanasi Marudhar Express via Faizabad Junction leaves Jodhpur Junction every Monday, Thursday & Saturday and reaches Varanasi Junction the next day.
- 14853 Varanasi Jodhpur Marudhar Express via Faizabad Junction leaves Varanasi Junction every Monday, Wednesday & Saturday and reaches Jodhpur Junction the next day.
- 14864 Jodhpur Varanasi Marudhar Express via Sultanpur leaves Jodhpur Junction every Tuesday, Friday & Sunday and reaches Varanasi Junction the next day.
- 14863 Varanasi Jodhpur Marudhar Express via Sultanpur leaves Varanasi Junction every Tuesday, Friday & Sunday and reaches Jodhpur Junction the next day.
- 14866 Jodhpur Varanasi Marudhar Express via Rae Bareli Junction leaves Jodhpur Junction every Wednesday and reaches Varanasi Junction the next day.
- 14865 Varanasi Jodhpur Marudhar Express via Rae Bareli Junction leaves Varanasi Junction every Thursday and reaches Jodhpur Junction the next day.