Visakhapatnam–Gandhidham Express
The 18501/18502 Visakhapatnam – Gandhidham Express is an express train belonging to Indian Railways that runs between Visakhapatnam Junction and Gandhidham Junction as a weekly service. It is maintained by South Coast Railway Zone.[1][2]
_Express_at_Visakhapatnam_02.jpg) | |||||
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| Overview | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service type | Express | ||||
| First service | 24 December 2013 | ||||
| Current operator(s) | South Coast Railway zone | ||||
| Route | |||||
| Start | Visakhapatnam Junction (VSKP) | ||||
| Stops | 28 | ||||
| End | Gandhidham Junction (GIMB) | ||||
| Distance travelled | 2,112 km (1,312 mi) | ||||
| Average journey time | 39 hours 30 minutes | ||||
| Service frequency | Weekly | ||||
| Train number(s) | 18501 / 18502 | ||||
| On-board services | |||||
| Disabled access |  | ||||
| Seating arrangements | Yes | ||||
| Sleeping arrangements | Yes | ||||
| Catering facilities | Pantry Car E-Catering On-board Catering | ||||
| Observation facilities | Standard Indian Railway coaches | ||||
| Technical | |||||
| Rolling stock | 2 | ||||
| Track gauge | 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) | ||||
| Operating speed | 110 km/h (68 mph) maximum 54 km/h (34 mph) (up), 53 km/h (33 mph) (down) including halts | ||||
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Special runs and inaugural
It operates as train number 18501 from Visakhapatnam to Gandhidham and as train number 18502. It first ran as holiday special on 19, 26 December 2013. Later it was inaugurated on 24 December by Union minister of state for commerce and industry, D.Purandeswari with train number as 08503 from Visakhapatnam and from Gandhidham as 08504 inaugural special.[3][4] Its regular run commenced on 2 January 2014 with train numbers 18501/18502.
Coach Composition
The train has standard ICF rakes with max speed of 110 kmph. The train consist of 23 coaches :
- 1 AC II Tier
- 3 AC III Tier
- 10 Sleeper Coaches
- 6 General Unreserved
- 2 Seating cum Luggage Rake
- 1 Pantry Car
| Loco | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | SLR | UR | UR | UR | A1 | B3 | B2 | B1 | S10 | S9 | PC | S8 | S7 | S6 | S5 | S4 | S3 | S2 | S1 | UR | UR | UR | SLR |
Service
The 18501/Visakhapatnam - Gandhidham Express has averages speed of 54 km/hr and covers 2112 km in 39 hrs 25 mins.
The 18502/Gandhidham - Visakhapatnam Express has averages speed of 53 km/hr and covers 2112 km in 39 hrs 50 mins.
Route and halts
The halts of the train are:
- Visakhapatnam Junction
- Duvvada
- Samalkot Junction
- Rajahmundry
- Eluru
- Vijayawada Junction
- Khammam
- Warangal
- Ramagundam
- Sirpur Khagaznagar
- Balharshah Junction
- Chandrapur
- Wardha Junction
- Badnera Junction
- Akola Junction
- Malkapur
- Bhusaval Junction
- Jalgaon Junction
- Nandurbar
- Surat
- Ankleshwar Junction
- Vadodara Junction
- Anand Junction
- Ahmedabad Junction
- Viramgam Junction
- Dhrangadhra Junction
- Maliya Miyana Junction
- Samakhiali Junction
- Bhachau
- Gandhidham Junction
Schedule
| Train Number | Station Code | Departure Station | Departure Time | Departure Day | Arrival Station | Arrival Time | Arrival Day |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18501 | VSKP | Visakhapatnam Junction | 17:35 PM | Thu | Gandhidham Junction | 09:00 AM | Sat |
| 18502 | GIMB | Gandhidham Junction | 22:45 PM | Sun | Visakhapatnam Junction | 14:35 PM | Tue |
Traction
It is hauled by an Electric Loco Shed, Vadodara or Electric Loco Shed, Lallaguda based WAP-4E or WAP-7 from Visakhapatnam to Ahmedabad, after which a Diesel Loco Shed, Vatva based WDM-3A or WDM-3D takes over until Gandhidham.
References
- "18501/Visakhapatnam - Gandhidham Weekly Express". India Rail Info.
- "18502/Gandhidham - Visakhapatnam Weekly Express". India Rail Info.
- "inaugural special".
- "official release by ECoR".