Howrah–New Jalpaiguri AC Express

Howrah New Jalpaiguri AC Express
Overview
Service typeSuperfast
First service30 July 2013 [1]
Last serviceDiscontinued on 19 May 2020 due to COVID.
Current operator(s)Eastern Railways
Route
TerminiHowrah Junction
New Jalpaiguri
Stops6
Distance travelled561 km (349 mi)
Average journey time10 hours 15 mins in both directions
Service frequencyWeekly. 22309 Howrah–New Jalpaiguri AC Express – Tuesday, 22310 New Jalpaiguri–Howrah AC Express – Wednesday.
Train number(s)22309 / 22310
On-board services
Class(es)AC Chair Car, AC 3 tier
Seating arrangementsYes
Sleeping arrangementsYes
Catering facilitiesNo
Technical
Rolling stockStandard Indian Railways Yuva Express coaches
Track gauge1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in)
Operating speed110 km/h (68 mph) maximum,
54.73 km/h (34 mph), including halts

The 22309 / 10 Howrah–New Jalpaiguri AC Express was a AC Superfast Express train belonging to Indian Railways – Eastern Railway zone that ran between Howrah Junction (Kolkata) and New Jalpaiguri (Siliguri) in India that operated from July 30, 2013, to May 19, 2020.

It operated as train number 22309 from Howrah to New Jalpaiguri and as train number 22310 in the reverse direction, serving the states of West Bengal and Bihar.

Eastern Railway cancelled its operations permanently from 19 May 2020.

Coaches

The 22309 / 10 Howrah–New Jalpaiguri AC Express had 6 AC 3 tier, 11 AC Chair Car and 2 End-on Generator coaches [2]. It did not carry a pantry car [3].

Service

The 22309 / 10 Howrah–New Jalpaiguri AC Express covered the distance of 561 km (349 mi) in 10 hours 15 mins (54.73 km/h) in both directions.

Despite the average speed of the train being below 55 km/h (34 mph), as per Indian Railways rules, its fare included a Superfast surcharge.

Routeing

The 22309 / 10 Howrah–New Jalpaiguri AC Express ran from Howrah Junction to New Jalpaiguri (Siliguri). The intermediate stations and stoppage time were as follows-

  1. Howrah (starts)
  2. Barddhaman Junction (2 minutes)
  3. Rampurhat Junction (2 minutes)
  4. Malda Town (10 minutes)
  5. Kishanganj (2 minutes)
  6. New Jalpaiguri (Siliguri) (ends)

Traction

As the route is fully electrified, this train ran on electric traction Howrah WAP-7.

Operation

  • 22309 Howrah–New Jalpaiguri AC Express left Howrah Junction every Tuesday and reached New Jalpaiguri the next day.
  • 22310 New Jalpaiguri–Howrah AC Express left New Jalpaiguri every Wednesday and reached Howrah Junction the same day.

Rake sharing

The 22309 / 10 Howrah–New Jalpaiguri AC Express shared its rake with the permanently discontinued 12249 / 50 Howrah–Anand Vihar Yuva Express.

See also

Other trains on the Kolkata–New Jalpaiguri sector

References

  • "INAUGURAL SPECIAL RUN: HOWRAH – NEW JALPAIGURI WEEKLY AC EXPRESS – YouTube". youtube.com. Retrieved 11 August 2014.
  • "Indian Railways News: Train No 22309 / 22310 Howrah – New Jalpaiguri weekly AC Superfast express". railnewz.blogspot.in. 30 July 2013. Retrieved 11 August 2014.
  • "Western Railway augments six coaches in Howrah–Delhi Yuva Express : India, News – India Today". indiatoday.intoday.in. Retrieved 11 August 2014.
  • "HWH WDM3D 11204 hauling New Jalpaiguri-Howrah AC Express slowly departing New Jalpaiguri | Flickr – Photo Sharing!". flickr.com. 20 February 2014. Retrieved 11 August 2014.