Status Operating First service 26 April 2015 Start Lucknow Jn NER | Locale Uttar Pradesh & Delhi Current operator(s) North Eastern Railways | |
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Service type Indian Railways Double Decker Train | ||
Lucknow Jn - Anand Vihar Terminal - Lucknow Jn Double Decker Express is an Indian Railways train running between Lucknow Junction railway station and Anand Vihar Terminal. It is the ninth double decker train in India and is the first such service for the state of Uttar Pradesh. The train operates on a bi-weekly basis on Fridays and Sundays from both ends. After Lucknow mail, Lucknow AC Express, Lucknow Swarna Shatabdi Express and Gomti Express, it is the fifth dedicated train service between the national capital and the state capital of Uttar Pradesh.
Contents
Trials and Clearance Certificate
The rake for this train was procured by North Eastern Railways, Lucknow Division from the Kapurthala Rail Coach factory on April 21, 2014. The first trials of the train on its route were carried out on October 18, 2014. The train departed from Lucknow Jn. at 10 AM and reached Anand Vihar Terminal within 7 hours 40 minutes. While the trials were mostly successful, on its way back, the train brushed against the wall of a platform at Moradabad Jn forcing the station authorities to modify a part of the platform. Followed by this, rigorous trials at all platforms of Lucknow Junction railway station were carried out the following day. Finally the safety clearance from Research Design and Standards Organization (RDSO) was given and the train chugged off after four months.
Inauguration
This train service was flagged off on April 26, 2015 from the Anand Vihar Terminal by the Union Home minister Mr. Rajnath Singh in the presence of the Union Railway Minister Mr.Suresh Prabhu and the Minister of State for Railways, Mr. Manoj Sinha. Nearly 650 people travelled in the inaugural run of this train.
Journey
The train starts from Lucknow Junction railway station at 05:00 hrs and reaches Anand Vihar Terminal of at 13:00 hrs, the same day. In return the train starts back at 14:10 from Anand Vihar Terminal to reach back Lucknow Jn at 22:50 the same day. The Time table is as follows:
12583 Lucknow Jn NER to Anand Vihar Terminal
12584 Anand Vihar Terminal to Lucknow Jn NER
Introduction of Catering Services
In a response to the numerous complaints from passengers pertaining to unavailability of catering services and buffet car in the train, North Eastern Railways consented to initiate the facility with effect from July 17, 2015. Vendors providing lunch, dinner, beverages, drinking water and snacks are now available aboard. E-catering service is yet to be introduced.
Coach Composition
The train was inaugurated and further planned to run with twelve Double Decked LHB AC Chair Car coaches, but due to technical reasons, the composition was revised to ten such coaches and two generator cum luggage vans at each end. Each coach has a sitting capacity of 120 passengers.
The coach composition is as follows:
12953: LOCO-EOG-C1-C2-C3-C4-C5-C6-C7-C8-C9-C10-EOG
12954: LOCO-EOG-C10-C9-C8-C7-C6-C5-C4-C3-C2-C1-EOG
Here 'LOCO' denotes the direction of the locomotive. 'EOG' stands for End-On-Generator Van and C1 through C10 are AC Chair Car Coaches. The rake is non-self-generating LHB type and the maximum permissible speed of the rolling stock is 160 kmph though due to sectional speed restrictions, the train only touches a maximum speed of 110 kmph.
Quota Allocation
The figures mentioned denote the total number of seats available for booking in this train from the mentioned station under the respective quotas. The bookings can be made from the official ticketing site of Indian Railways http://irctc.co.in .
12583 Lucknow Jn NER to Anand Vihar Terminal
12584 Anand Vihar Terminal to Lucknow Jn NER
Extension and linkage to Jaipur bound Double Decker Service
Unavailability of pit lines for maintenance of the train at Lucknow Junction is posing difficulties in operation of the train on a daily basis. Hence it has been proposed to link the service to the Jaipur bound Double Decker Service from Delhi. The Ghaziabad-Delhi Sarai Rohilla section is currently being surveyed for feasibility of operation. With the change in place the timings may be changed to a 9AM departure from Lucknow and around 11AM departure from Delhi.
Accidents
On June 28, 2015, the C-5 coach of the Anand Vihar bound train caught fire due to jamming of brakes to the wheels. The incident happened near Karuha station (9 km from Hardoi, 110 km from Lucknow Jn.). Though the incident was soon noticed and attended and hence no casualties were reported. After a delay of approximately two hours, the train was made to depart.