Howrah Junction railway station
Howrah Junction, more popularly known as Howrah Station, is the oldest and largest railway complex in India, serving the twin cities of Howrah and Kolkata. 617 passenger trains pass through the station each day requiring its 23 platforms and serving more than two million passengers per day with the highest train handling capacity of any Indian railway station. Howrah Junction is one of five intercity railway stations serving the city of Kolkata, the others being Sealdah, Santragachi and Kolkata railway station; the station is located in Howrah on the west bank of the Hooghly River. 1373 stations across India are directly connected to Howrah Railway Station. On 17 June 1851, George Turnbull, the Chief Engineer of the East Indian Railway Company and his team of engineers submitted plans for a railway station at Howrah. In January 1852, the government authorities decided not to purchase the land and expensive water frontage needed for the project, not realising the future importance of railways.
Turnbull developed other plans to cost an estimated 250,000 rupees. In October 1852, four tenders for the building of the station were received: they varied from 190,000 to 274,526 rupees; the first locomotive left Howrah on 18th June 1853 for the 37.5 miles to Pundoah. Great crowds celebrated the first public departure from Howrah for the 23.5 miles to Hooghly on 15th August 1854. In 1901, a new station building was proposed due to increased demand for rail travel; the British architect Halsey Ricardo designed the new station. It was opened to the public on 1 December 1905; this is the current Howrah station building including 15 platform tracks. On 3 March 1969, the first Rajdhani Express left Howrah Junction for New Delhi. In the 1980s, the station was expanded to include 8 new platforms on the south side of the station. On the other hand, the opening of the bridge over the Rupnarayan River at Kolaghat, on 19 April 1900, connected Howrah with Kharagpur. At the same time, a new Yatri Niwas was built south of the original station frontage.
Until 1992, there was a tram terminus at Howrah station. Trams departed for Rajabazar, Sealdah Station, High Court, Dalhousie Square, Park Circus and Shyambazar. Trams departed for Bandhaghat and Shibpur; the tram terminus was closed in 1971 while the Bandhaghat and Shibpur lines were closed. Many unauthorized vehicles and pedestrians began to traverse the tram tracks and so the routes were not continued; the terminus station was converted to a bus terminus. The part of the tram terminus for other routes continued to function until 1992, when the Rabindra Setu was declared unfit to carry trams because it was a cantilever bridge; the new terminal complex was finished in 1992. This was extended by a further 4 platforms in 2009. In October 2011, India's first double-decker train left Howrah for Dhanbad; the first service of the Antyodaya Express started on March 4, 2017 between Ernakulam Junction and Howrah. North of the station there is a railway museum displaying artefacts of historical importance related to the development of Eastern Railway.
For many years the Fairy Queen, the world's oldest operational steam locomotive, was displayed on a plinth inside the station. The Eastern Railway runs local trains to Belur Math, Arambagh, Katwa, Sheoraphuli, Bardhaman and numerous intermediate stations. There are mail and express trains to Central and North-East India. A narrow gauge line connects Katwa, served by DMU trains; the South Eastern Railway, operates local trains to Amta, Panskura, Tamluk, Kanthi and Kharagpur and mail and express trains to Central and South India. South Eastern Railway, connects with the Great Indian Peninsular Railway route to Mumbai and Chennai; the Eastern Railway and South Eastern Railway sections are connected by two links. One is the Lilua–Tikiapara link, the other is the Rajchandrapur–Dankuni-Maurigram link, they are used by the Sealdah-Puri Duronto Express, avoiding Howrah. Four major rail routes end at Howrah Junction, they are the Howrah-Delhi, Howrah-Mumbai, Howrah-Guwahati routes. After completion, Kolkata Metro Line 2 will pass through Howrah Junction.
The station is the divisional headquarters for the Eastern Railway. The station has 23 platforms. Platforms 1 to 15 are located in the old complex, referred to as "Terminal 1", it serves the local and long-distance trains of Eastern Railway and local trains of South Eastern Railway. Platforms 16 to 23 are in the new complex, referred to as "Terminal 2", it serves the long distance trains of South Eastern Railway. There is a large covered waiting area between the main complex and the platforms and other areas for passengers awaiting connecting trains. Google provides RailWire Free high-speed wifi. In addition, there is a transit passenger facility with dormitory, single-room and double-room accommodation. First-class passengers wait in an air-conditioned area with balcony views of the Kolkata Skyline and the Howrah Bridge; the station platforms have carriageways for motor vehicles within the complex including two carriageways to platforms 8 and 9 for Eastern Railway and to platforms 21 and 22 for South Eastern Railway.
Flyovers at the ends of the platforms allow motor vehicles to exit the complex quickly. Sampath Rail Yatri Niwas and Regional Rail Museum are a part of "Terminal 2"; the station has a diesel-locomotive shed with room for 84 locomotives. The electric-locomotive shed has room for 96 locomotives. There is an electric-trip sh
Gatimaan Express
Gatimaan Express is India's first semi-high speed train that runs between Delhi and Jhansi. It operates at a maximum speed of 160 km/h and is the second fastest train in India after Train 18; the train takes 265 minutes to cover the 403 km journey from Hazrat Nizamuddin to Jhansi Junction railway stations with an average speed of 91.25 km/h from 1 April 2018. In October 2014, the railways applied for safety certificate from Commission of Railway Safety to start the service. In June 2015, the train was announced; the train was launched on 5 April 2016 and completed its maiden journey between Nizamuddin and Agra Cantt within 100 minutes. In this train locomotive WAP 5 engine is used. Four dedicated WAP-5 locomotives 30007, 30020, 30086 & WAP 5H from Ghaziabad Electric locomotive shed are used to haul this train in both the directions. All coaches are LHB coaches. There are 12 coaches including 2 Luggage cum generator vans known as End-On-Generator vans. 8 coaches are AC Chair Car. The train uses same livery as used by Shatabdi Express with an additional yellow band.
As the whole route is electrified the, three dedicated WAP-5 locomotives 30007, 30020 & 30086 from Ghaziabad electric locomotive shed are used to haul this train in both the directions. The train has eight AC Chair Car coaches; the train is equipped with bio-toilets, fire alarms, GPS-based passenger information system and sliding doors. The train has train hostesses for service, similar to airlines and the passengers get access to free Wi-Fi and multimedia content. Both vegetarian and non-vegetarian meals are available in North South Indian variations. On an average, Gatimaan Express arrives 2 minutes earlier at Jhansi Railway Station than its scheduled time; the train leaves Hazrat Nizamuddin at 8:10 am IST and reaches Jhansi at 12:35 pm IST. Departure from Jhansi is at 3:05 pm IST reaching Nizammudin at 7:30 pm IST. Average delay of 12050 - Gatimaan Express for the year 2017 is 27 minutes Gatimaan Exp. has a total of 10 coaches. Two of them are executive rest eight are AC chair car. Gatimaan Express is hauled by WAP 5 electric locomotive from Ghaziabad Loco shed.
Four dedicated WAP-5 locomotives 30007, 30020, WAP 5H & 30086 from Ghaziabad Electric locomotive shed are used to haul this train in both the directions. The locomotives are equipped with TPWS
Rolling stock
The term rolling stock in rail transport industry refers to any vehicles that move on a railway. It includes both powered and unpowered vehicles, for example locomotives, railroad cars and wagons. In the US, the definition has been expanded to include the wheeled vehicles used by businesses on roadways. Note that stock in the term is business related and used in a sense of inventory. Rolling stock is considered to be a liquid asset, or close to it, since the value of the vehicle can be estimated and shipped to the buyer without much cost or delay; the term contrasts with fixed stock, a collective term for the track, stations, other buildings, electric wires, etc. necessary to operate a railway. In Great Britain, types of rolling stock were given code names of animals. For example, "Toad" was used as a code name for the Great Western Railway goods brake van, while British Railways wagons used for track maintenance were named after fish, such as "Dogfish" for a ballast hopper; these codes were telegraphese, somewhat analogous to the SMS language of today.
List of railway vehicles Great Western Railway telegraphic codes Great Western Railway wagons Media related to rail vehicles at Wikimedia Commons The dictionary definition of rolling stock at Wiktionary
Hajipur
Hajipur is the largest city and headquarters of Vaishali district of Tirhut Division in the Indian state of Bihar. Hajipur is the 10th leading city and 17th most populous city of Bihar, making it the second-fastest developing city, next to Patna, it had a total population of 4.43 lakh as per census 2011. Vaishali district is ranked 8th on a list of 38 districts in Bihar in terms of growth; the city is known for producing bananas. Patna, the capital of Bihar is only 10 km from Hajipur; the metropolis of Patna comprises PRDA area, includes Hajipur. Mahatma Gandhi Setu, one of the longest bridges in the world at 5.75 kilometres, links it to Patna. After Patna, it is the fastest-developing city in Bihar because of its close proximity to Patna. There have been plans to expand Patna to Greater Patna, by absorbing Hajipur and other surrounding towns into it; the area of Hajipur city is spread across 19.64 km2. The city has been divided into 39 wards. In 1979, a museum was established in Hajipur, by the Directorate of museum, Bihar.
In the ancient time, it was known as Ukkacala and was the first village to come after crossing River Ganges at Patna. The village of Hajipur gained significance, as it was the venue of one of the discourses given by Lord Buddha. Buddha preached a Middle Length Discourse, here. Along with that, it is of interest because a portion of Ananda's ashes were enshrined in the town, the closest disciple of Lord Buddha. Ananda acted as the Buddha's personal attendant for twenty years and outlived him by several decades. Hajipur, earlier in British India was a small town in Muzaffarpur district situated on the confluence of the Ganges and Gandak. Hajipur figures conspicuously in the history of struggles between Akbar and the rebellious Afghan karrani rulers of Bengal. Hajipur finds its origin way back in history from the Mahabharata period, it is the place where democracy found its origin around 600 BC. Ancient Licchavi republic was established in this land only, it is the place where Lord Mahavir took birth and Gautam Buddha delivered his last sermon and announced his Parinirvana.
Hajipur is the headquarters of Vaishali after its separation from Muzaffarpur district on 12 October 1972. It is located at 25.68°N 85.22°E / 25.68. It has an average elevation of 46 metres; the Hajipur city is bounded by Narayani Gandak river in holy Ganges in the south. A good network of rail and water transport exists in the city, connecting it with other parts of the district as well as state and country. Mahatma Gandhi Setu over river Ganges connects it with Patna, the state capital, while another rail and road bridge over Gandak connects it with Sonepur; the plain terrain of the city and its nearby area is famous for banana and mango plantations. The region looks green with trees growing in semi-tropical monsoon climate. However, the months of May–June are hot, December–January is cold; the climate is temperate in Hajipur. This location is classified as Csa by Geiger; the temperature here averages 25.8 °C. The average annual rainfall is 993 mm; the driest month is December, with 3 mm of rainfall with an average of 266 mm, the most precipitation falls in July.
The warmest month of the year is May, with an average temperature of 32.2 °C. January has the lowest average temperature of the year is 17.1 °C. The difference in precipitation between the driest month and the wettest month is 263 mm. During the year, the average temperatures vary by 15.1 °C. The table below details historical monthly averages for climate variables; as per 2011 census Hajipur city has a population of 147,688, out of which males were 78,047 and females were 69,641. The literacy rate was 76.80 per cent, higher than the national average of 74.04%: male literacy is 82.45%, female literacy is 70.47%. In Hajipur, 14.15% of the population is under 6 years of age. The sex ratio of 892 females per 1,000 males was lower than the national average of 944. ♦ Source: The economy of Hajipur is service orientated, but it has an agricultural base and industrial sector. As of 2011, service accounts for industry 9 % and agriculture 35 % of the economy of the city. There is a dedicated industrial area in Hajipur apart from EPIP, maintained by BIADA in area of 150 acres where many Big Brands of FMCG & Agro based companies like Pepsico, Britaniya, HUL, Anmol,Sudha, Wayss Ice Cream, Bansal,Treat, Avon Cycle etc have their manufacturing units.
As of 2010, there are several upcoming construction projects from private and public sectors with three new bridges connecting to Patna. The Export Promotion Industrial Park, is a multiple-product export processing zone in East India developed by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the Government of Bihar and by the administrative body BIADA located in Hajipur, Bihar, In the administrative Vaishali district, has 94 acres of land with modern infrastructure; the Ramchaura Mandir is a Hindu Temple in the city of Hajipur, India. Dedicated to Lord Rama, it is located at Rambhadra near Hajipur; as per local folklore, it is said to have been in existence since Ramayana period and Lord Shri Ram is believed to have visited this place on his way to Janakpur, where his footprints are worshiped. The Ramchaura Mandir has tradition of celebrating Rama Navami, the birth anniversary of Rama, every year. A small fair is organised on the eve of Rama Navami. Archeological objects excavated from Ramchaura are kept at the Patna Museum.
It is considered one of the main ghats of Ganga-Gandak, where worshiping and cremation has been performed for centuries. This ghat has got its name based on an ancient lege
Chennai Rajdhani Express
The Chennai Rajdhani Express is an important train connecting Chennai to New Delhi. It runs twice a week from Delhi and twice from Chennai; the Chennai Rajdhani is a fast alternative to the classic Grand Trunk Express and the modern superfast Tamil Nadu Express. The Chennai Rajdhani covers a distance of 2176 kilometers in 28 hours 10 minutes as compared to 33 hours and 5 min covered by Tamil Nadu Express and 35 hours and 15 minutes taken by Grand Trunk Express, it gets WAP7 from SCR's Lallaguda electric shed. It shares the record of being the second fastest train between Chennai Central and Hazrat Nizamuddin covering the distance of 2175 km in 28 hours and 10 minutes as Chennai Duronto covering the 2174 km journey in 27 hours and 55 minutes but in return it does not happens; the train get highest priority on the Indian railway network and is air-conditioned. Passengers are provided with complimentary meals during the journey. Depending on the timings of the train, high tea, morning tea, breakfast are served.
The trains offer three classes of accommodation. Passengers travelling on the First AC class in this train are treated with luxury, they get music stereos, scent emitters and a 4 course dinner. The Chennai Rajdhani Express runs at an average speed of 77.24 km/h, touches a top speed of 130 km/h in the Delhi-Jhansi section of the route. This train now runs with the new LHB rakes, which were introduced in 2012. Chennai Rajdhani Express is the Fastest train on Chennai-Delhi sector, it uses a Lallaguda HOG WAP-7 locomotive end to end; this train has 9 AC Three tier,5 AC Two Tier,1 AC First Class,1 pantry car & 2 luggage cum generator coaches taking the total to 18 LHB coaches. It shares its rake with Thiruvananthapuram Rajdhani Express and Secunderabad Rajdhani Express and Madgaon Rajdhani Express The 12433 Rajdhani Express leaves Chennai Central in the morning of Friday & Sunday at 06:10 and reaches Hazrat Nizamuddin at 10:25 in the morning of the next day. While on the return journey, the 12434 Chennai Rajdhani leaves Hazrat Nizamuddin at 15:55 on Wednesday & Friday and reaches Chennai Central at 20:15 in the evening of the next day.
List of all Rajdhani Trains Chennai Rajdhani Schedule & Route Map
Dibrugarh Rajdhani Express
Dibrugarh Rajdhani Express is one of the premier train in the exclusive fleet of Rajdhani Expresses of Indian Railways. There are three set of Rajdhani Express which connects New Delhi with Guwahati and further with Dibrugarh. Dibrugarh to Katihar WDP 4D of SGUJ loco shed and Katihar to New Delhi WAP 7 of GZB loco shed. On 25 June 2014, this train derailed in Chhapra, killing four people and injuring eight. Sabotage by Naxalites ruled out as the cause of the crash. On 6 December 2016 derailed in Allipurduar district of west Bengal. Indian Railways Express trains in India List of named passenger trains of India
Train
A train is a form of transport consisting of a series of connected vehicles that runs along a rail track to transport cargo or passengers. The word "train" comes from the Old French trahiner, derived from the Latin trahere meaning "to pull" or "to draw". Motive power for a train is provided by a separate locomotive or individual motors in a self-propelled multiple unit. Although steam propulsion dominated, the most common types of locomotive are diesel and electric, the latter supplied by overhead wires or additional rails. Trains can be hauled by horses, pulled by engine or water-driven cable or wire winch, run downhill using gravity, or powered by pneumatics, gas turbines or batteries. Train tracks consist of two running rails, sometimes supplemented by additional rails such as electric conducting rails and rack rails. Monorails and maglev guideways are used occasionally. A passenger train includes passenger-carrying vehicles and can be long and fast. One notable and growing long-distance train.
In order to achieve much faster operation at speeds of over 500 km/h, innovative maglev technology has been the subject of research for many years. The term "light rail" is sometimes used to refer to a modern tram system, but it may mean an intermediate form between a tram and a train, similar to a heavy rail rapid transit system. In most countries, the distinction between a tramway and a railway is precise and defined in law. A freight train uses freight cars to transport materials, it is possible to carry passengers and freight in the same train using a mixed consist. Rail cars and machinery that are used for the maintenance and repair of tracks, are termed "maintenance of way" equipment. Dedicated trains may be used to provide support services to stations along a train line, such as garbage or revenue collection. There are various types of train. A train can consist of a combination of one or more locomotives and attached railroad cars, or a self-propelled multiple unit, or a single or articulated powered coach called a railcar.
Special kinds of train running on corresponding purpose-built "railways" are monorails, high-speed railways, atmospheric railways, rubber-tired underground and cog railways. A passenger train consists of several coaches. Alternatively, a train may consist of passenger-carrying coaches, some or all of which are powered. In many parts of the world the Far East and Europe, high-speed rail is used extensively for passenger travel. Freight trains consist of wagons or trucks rather than carriages, though some parcel and mail trains appear outwardly to be more like passenger trains. Trains can have mixed consist, with both passenger accommodation and freight vehicles; these mixed trains are most to be used for services that run infrequently, where the provision of separate passenger and freight trains would not be cost-effective, but the disparate needs of passengers and freight means that this is avoided where possible. Special trains are used for track maintenance. In the United Kingdom, a train hauled using two locomotives is known as a "double-headed" train.
In Canada and the United States, it is quite common for a long freight train to be headed by three or more locomotives. A train with a locomotive attached at both ends is described as "top and tailed", this practice being used when there are no reversing facilities available. Where a second locomotive is attached temporarily to assist a train when ascending steep banks or gradients, this is referred to as "banking" in the UK. Many loaded trains in the US are assembled using one or more locomotives in the middle or at the rear of the train, which are operated remotely from the lead cab; this is referred to as "DP" or "Distributed Power." The railway terminology, used to describe a train varies between countries. In the United Kingdom, the interchangeable terms set and unit are used to refer to a group of permanently or semi-permanently coupled vehicles, such as those of a multiple unit. While when referring to a train made up of a variety of vehicles, or of several sets/units, the term formation is used.
The word rake is used for a group of coaches or wagons. Section 83 of the UK's Railways Act 1993 defines "train" as follows: a) two or more items of rolling stock coupled together, at least one of, a locomotive. In the United States, the term consist is used to describe the group of rail vehicles that make up a train; when referring to motive power, consist refers to the group of locomotives powering the train. The term trainset refers to a group of rolling stock, permanently or semi-permanently coupled together to form a unified set of equipment. There are three types of locomotive: electric and steam; the Atchison and Santa Fe Railway's 1948 operating rules define a train as: "An engine or more than one engine coupled, with or without cars, displaying markers." A bogie is trolley. In mechanics terms, a bogie is a framework carrying wheels, attached to a vehicle, it can be fixed in place, as on a cargo truck, mounted on a swivel, as on a railway carriage or locomotive, o
.jpg)
