Service type Superfast Start Mumbai CST | Current operator(s) Central Railway End Ferozpur | |
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Stops 56 as 12137 Punjab Mail, 54 as 12138 Punjab Mail | ||
The 12137/12138 Punjab Mail is a Superfast express train of Indian Railways - Central Railway zone that runs between Mumbai and Ferozpur in India. It operates as train number 12137 from Mumbai CST to Ferozpur and as train number 12138 in the reverse direction. It is among the two daily trains that connect Mumbai and Firozpur, the other being the Ferozpur Janata Express.
Contents
History
This is the oldest running train in India since 1912 (105 years old).The inaugural run of the Punjab Mail is thought to have taken place on 1 June 1912. Then known as The Punjab Limited, the train initially ran from Ballard Pier to Peshawar, taking British officers, civil servants, and their families directly from their ships to Delhi and the North-West frontier of British India.This train is older than the Grand Trunk Express which started on 1 January 1929.
In 1914, the originating station was moved to Victoria Terminus, and after the partition of India in 1947, the train's terminus was brought back to Firozpur on the India-Pakistan border.
Coaches
The 12137/12138 Punjab Mail presently has 1 AC 1st Class cum AC 2 tier coach, 1 AC 2 tier coach, 1 AC 2 cum AC 3 tier coach, 5 AC 3 tier coaches, 10 Sleeper Class coaches, 4 General Unreserved coaches & 1 Pantry Car.
As with most train services in India, coach composition may be amended at the discretion of Indian Railways depending on demand.
It also carries a Railway Mail coach thus earning it the title of "Mail" in its name.
Service
The 12137 Punjab Mail covers the distance of 1930 kilometres in 34 hours 00 mins (56.76 km/hr) & in 33 hours 55 mins as 12138 Punjab Mail (56.90 km/hr).
As the average speed of the train is above 55 km/h (34 mph), as per Indian Railway rules, its fare includes a Superfast surcharge.
Traction
Earlier, it was hauled by 3 locomotives during its journey. A dual traction WCAM 3 locomotive from Kalyan shed hauled the train from Mumbai CST to Igatpuri after which a Ghaziabad based WAP 4 would haul the train until New Delhi following which a WDP 4 from Bhagat Ki Kothi shed hauls the train for the remainder of the journey until Firozpur Cantonment.
As Central railways completed its DC-AC conversion on 6 June 2015, it is now hauled by a Ghaziabad based WAP 4 from Mumbai CST until New Delhi following which a WDP 4 from Bhagat Ki Kothi shed hauls the train for the remainder of the journey until Firozpur Cantonment.