Avantika Superfast Express

Avantika Superfast Express
Overview
Service type	Superfast
Locale	Maharashtra, Gujarat & Madhya Pradesh
First service	1 May 1985; 39 years ago
Current operator(s)	Western Railways
Route
Termini	Mumbai Central (MMCT); Indore Junction (INDB)
Stops	18 as 12961 ; 17 as 12962
Distance travelled	830 km (516 mi)
Average journey time	12961 - 12 Hours 15 Minutes ; 12962 - 13 Hours 5 Minutes
Service frequency	Daily
Train number(s)	12961 / 12962
On-board services
Class(es)	AC 1st Class, AC 2 tier, AC 3 tier, AC Economy, Sleeper, Unreserved
Seating arrangements	Yes
Sleeping arrangements	Yes
Catering facilities	Available but no pantry car
Observation facilities	Rake sharing with 12927/12928 Dadar Western-Kevadia Express
Baggage facilities	Available
Technical
Rolling stock	LHB coach
Track gauge	1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in)
Operating speed	130 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
Route map

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.

Background edit

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]

Gallery edit

AC Coaches
Sleeper Coaches
Generator Car
Former nameplate of ICF rakes
Former Sleeper Coach in ICF rakes
Former nameplate of ICF rakes (notice the first digit [1] added later on in different colour as the trains in IR earlier followed 4 digit numbering system)
Former nameplate for ICF rakes (notice the first digit [1] added later on as the trains in IR earlier followed 4 digit numbering system)
Former ICF rakes being sheltered at Indore
Former ICF rakes being backed into INDB station
General Unreserved coach of former ICF rakes
AC First Class coach of former ICF rakes

Service edit

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

It is one of the fastest train on this route and one of the only two trains connecting MMCT to INDB, the other one being Mumbai Indore Duronto Express which covers the distance of 829 kilometers in just 11 hours 15 mins (73 km/h) due to its premium priority and less stoppages.

Avantika Superfast Express is highly rated amongst it's commuters and railfans due to its cleanliness, safety, and punctuality, more often than not this train usually reaches the stations before its scheduled time.

Schedule edit

Train number	Station code	Departure station	Departure time	Departure day	Arrival station	Arrival time	Arrival day
12961	MMCT	Mumbai Central	08:55 PM	Daily	Indore Junction	09:55 AM	Daily
12962	INDB	Indore Junction	05:35 PM	Daily	Mumbai Central	06:30 AM	Daily

Coaches edit

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
WAP7	EOG	GS	S1	S2	S3	S4	S5	S6	M1	M2	B1	B2	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.

Locomotive link edit

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 2019 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)