Samarsata Express

The 12151 / 12152 Lokmanya Tilak Terminus–Howrah Samarsata Express is a Superfast Express train belonging to Indian Railways – Central Railways zone that runs between Lokmanya Tilak Terminus and Shalimar in India. It is named after Samarasta Festival held in Nagpur.

Samarsata Express

Overview
Service type	Superfast Express
First service	05 January 2005
Current operator(s)	Central Railways
Route
Termini	Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (LTT) Shalimar (SHM)
Stops	22 as 12151, 21 as 12152
Distance travelled	2,081 km (1,293 mi) as 12151, 2,091 km (1,299 mi) as 12152
Average journey time	35 hours 50 minutes as 12151, 34 hours 15 minutes as 12152
Service frequency	2 days a week.
Train number(s)	12151 / 12152
On-board services
Class(es)	AC 1st Class, AC 2 tier, AC 3 tier, Sleeper Class, Second Class seating
Seating arrangements	Yes
Sleeping arrangements	Yes
Catering facilities	Available
Observation facilities	Rake sharing with 12101/12102 Jnaneswari Express
Technical
Rolling stock	LHB coach
Track gauge	1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) broad gauge
Operating speed	110 km/h (68 mph) maximum, 59.53 km/h (37 mph) average including halts
Route map

It operates as train number 12151 from Lokmanya Tilak Terminus to Shalimar and as train number 12152 in the reverse direction, serving the states of Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Jharkhand & West Bengal.

Coaches

The 12151 / 12152 Lokmanya Tilak Terminus–Howrah Samarsata Express presently has 1 AC 1st Class, 2 AC 2 tier, 5 AC 3 tier, 8 Sleeper Class, 3 Second Class seating & 2 SLR (Seating cum Luggage Rake) coaches. In addition, it carries a pantry car.

As with most train services in India, coach composition may be amended at the discretion of Indian Railways depending on demand.

Samarsata Express – coachboard

Samarsata Express – 2nd Class coach

Service

The 12151 / 12152 Samarsata Express covers the distance of 2081 kilometres in 35 hours 50 mins as 12151 Lokmanya Tilak Terminus–Howrah Samarsata Express (58.07 km/h) and 2091 kilometres in 34 hrs 15 mins as 12152 Howrah–Lokmanya Tilak Terminus Samarsata Express (61.05 km/h).

As the average speed of the train is above 55 km/h, as per Indian Railways rules, its fare includes a superfast surcharge.

Routeing

The 12151 / 12152 Lokmanya Tilak Terminus–Howrah Samarsata Express runs from Lokmanya Tilak Terminus via Kalyan Junction, Igatpuri, Nashik Road, Bhusaval Junction, Akola Junction, Nagpur Junction, Gondia Junction, Bilaspur Junction, Rourkela Junction, Purulia, Adra Junction, Bankura, Midnapore, Kharagpur Junction to Howrah Junction.

Traction

Initially a WCAM-3 from the Kalyan shed would haul the train from Lokmanya Tilak Terminus up to Igatpuri handing over to a Santragachi-based WAP-4 which powers the train until Howrah Junction.

With Central Railway progressively moving towards a complete changeover from DC to AC traction, it has recently started being hauled end to end by a Santragachi-based WAP-4 / WAP-7 locomotive.

Timings

• 12151 Lokmanya Tilak Terminus–Shalimar Samarsata Express leaves Lokmanya Tilak Terminus every Wednesday & Thursday at 20:35 hrs IST and reaches Shalimar at 06:55 hrs IST on the 3rd day.
• 12152 Shalimar–Lokmanya Tilak Terminus Samarsata Express leaves Shalimar every Friday & Saturday at 19:45 hrs IST and reaches Lokmanya Tilak Terminus at 05:30 hrs IST on the 3rd day.

External links

• "Welcome to Indian Railway Passenger reservation Enquiry". indianrail.gov.in. Retrieved 5 April 2014.
• "IRCTC Online Passenger Reservation System". irctc.co.in. Retrieved 5 April 2014.
• "[IRFCA] Welcome to IRFCA.org, the home of IRFCA on the internet". IRFCA. Retrieved 5 April 2014.

References

• "SAMARASATA DELUX Consumer Reviews and Ratings–Samarsata Express!!! – MouthShut.com". mouthshut.com. Retrieved 30 May 2014.
• "My Adventures on the Indian Railways: A 54 Hour Train Ride". isomerase.blogspot.in. August 2012. Retrieved 30 May 2014.
• "Several trains on South Eastern Railway route diverted | NDTV.com". ndtv.com. Retrieved 30 May 2014.