The 12627/12628 Karnataka Express is a daily Superfast train that runs between Bengaluru, the capital of Karnataka, and the Indian capital New Delhi.

Karnataka Express
Overview
Service typeSuperfast
First service1977; 47 years ago (1977) (split train as Kerala–Karnataka (KK) Express ) 1983; 41 years ago (1983) (as separate train, Karnataka Express)
Current operator(s)South Western Railway
Route
TerminiKSR Bengaluru (SBC)
New Delhi (NDLS)
Stops32
Distance travelled2392 km
Average journey time37 hrs 40 mins (up direction) and 40 hrs 10 mins (down direction)
Service frequencyDaily
Train number(s)12627 /12628
On-board services
Class(es)AC First Class, AC 2 Tier, AC 3 Tier, Sleeper class, Unreserved
Seating arrangementsAvailable
Sleeping arrangementsAvailable
Catering facilitiesAvailable (paid)
Baggage facilitiesAvailable
Technical
Rolling stockLHB coaches
Track gaugebroad gauge
Operating speedMaximum – 130.0 km/h, Average – 64 km/h
Route map

History edit

 
Karnataka Express in New Delhi

Bangalore was first connected to the north with Kerala - Karnataka (also known as KK) express introduced in 1976.[1] The train ran from New Delhi to Jolarpettai and was split into two trains, one going to Bangalore and the other to Trivandrum. This continued until 1983 when Karnataka express was launched in the February 1983 budget[2] as a single biweekly train running on 3 routes on different days of the week. The routes were via Secunderabad, Manmad, and Vijayawada. The train was then rerouted via Dharmavaram - Guntakal - Wadi - Daund - Bhusaval and continues to run on the same route to this day.[3][4]

Route & halts edit

Major stations along the route are KSR Bengaluru, Yelahanka Junction, Puttaparthi, Dharmavaram Junction, Anantapur, Guntakal Junction, Wadi Junction,Kalaburagi Junction, Solapur, Daund Junction, Manmad Junction, Bhusaval Junction, Burhanpur, Khandwa Junction, Itarsi Junction, Bhopal Junction, Jhansi Junction, Gwalior Junction, Agra Cantonment and New Delhi. It halts at several smaller stations, like Hindupur and Kopargaon.[5][6]

Apart from the stations mentioned above, 12627 also halts at Hazrat Nizamuddin.

Timings edit

The train runs on all 7 days of the week. 12627 and 12628 depart in the late evening and reach their destinations on the third morning and afternoon respectively.

Traction edit

The train is hauled by a WAP 7 locomotive of Royapuram / Lallaguda / Tuglakabad sheds on end to end basis.

Coach replacement and coach composition edit

 
Karnataka Express with LHB coaches

Karnataka express used to run with ICF coaches until 10 November 2021, when it was given LHB coaches. The coach composition is as follows:

  • 1 Second luggage, guard and disabled passenger compartment. (LSLRD)
  • 2 Second sitting coaches.
  • 11 sleeper coaches.
  • 4 Third AC coaches.
  • 1 Second AC coach.
  • 1 First AC coach.
  • 1 Pantry car coach.
  • 1 End on Generator coach.
  • 1 or 2 High capacity parcel van coaches. (HCP)

The train runs with 24 coaches in the up direction and 23 coaches in the down direction. The train shares its rakes with 12657/12658 KSR Bengaluru - MGR Chennai central Mail.

Coach arrangement for 12627 edit

Coach arrangement for 12627 is as follows.[7]

Loco 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24
DL1 D1 S1 S2 S3 S4 S5 S6 S7 S8 S9 S10 PC S11 B1 B2 B3 B4 A1 H1 D2 EOG HCP HCP

Coach arrangement for 12628 edit

Coach arrangement for 12628 is as follows.[8]

Loco 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23
EOG D2 H1 A1 B4 B3 B2 B1 S11 PC S10 S9 S8 S7 S6 S5 S4 S3 S2 S1 D1 DL1 HCP

Accidents and incidents edit

  • On 14 May 1989 Karnataka Express derailed near a bridge near Lalitpur, Uttar Pradesh killing 69. Several passengers had been complaining to the service staff of intermittent but strong and unusual jerks even before the train arrived at Bhopal, and the delayed train was speeding at more than 100 kilometres per hour. An engine or axle failure has been suspected as the cause of the derailment.[9]
  • On 6 March 1991 Karnataka Express derailed in the rain near Makalidurga ghats, about 60 km (37 mi) from Bangalore, killing 30.[10]
  • On 28 July 1997 Karnataka Express and Himsagar Express collided on the outskirts of Delhi, killing 12.[11]

References edit

  1. ^ ""Railway Budget speech 1977-78 (interim)"" (PDF). Ministry of Railways. 28 March 1977.
  2. ^ "Railway Budget speech 1983-84" (PDF). www.indianrailways.gov.in. Ministry of Railways. 24 March 1983.
  3. ^ ""Indianrailinfo - History of Karnataka express"".
  4. ^ ""24coaches - Big four of the south."". 23 December 2014.
  5. ^ "Railyatri - 12627 - Karnataka express timetable".
  6. ^ "Railyatri - 12628 - Karnataka express timetable".
  7. ^ ""Indianrailinfo - Karnataka express (12627)"".
  8. ^ ""Indianrailinfo - 12628 Karnataka express"".
  9. ^ Karnataka Express derailment India Today
  10. ^ "Chronology of major rail accidents". The Times of India. 15 May 2003.
  11. ^ "Rediff on the NeT: 12 killed in train collision near New Delhi". Rediff.com.

External links edit