Chennai Central–Ahmedabad Humsafar Express

Chennai Central–Ahmedabad Humsafar Express, also known as Ahmedabad Humsafar Express, is a 18 Coached partially air-conditioned version of Humsafar-type service running between Chennai Central and Ahmedabad Junction. It is one of the fastest train to connect Gujarat to Tamil Nadu, doing so in less than thirty hours. It is maintained by the Ahmedabad division of Western Railway (WR). In the up direction, from Ahmedabad to Chennai, the service runs with train number 22920 and in down direction, from Chennai to Ahmedabad, as train number 22919.

MGR Chennai Central - Ahmedabad Jn.
Humsafar Express
An AC 3 Tier LHB coach wrapped in Humsafar livery ready to depart from Ahmedabad Junction as 22920 Ahmedabad Chennai Humsafar Express
An AC-3 Tier coach of Chennai Central-Ahmedabad Humsafar Express at Ahmedabad Junction
Overview
Service typeHumsafar Express
StatusOperational
LocaleTamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Gujarat
First service8 May 2017; 7 years ago (2017-05-08)[1]
Current operator(s)Western Railway zone of Indian Railways
Route
TerminiChennai Central (MAS)
Ahmedabad Junction (ADI)
Stops12
Distance travelled1,727 km (1,073 mi)
Average journey time29 hours, 30 min
Service frequencyWeekly[a]
Train number(s)22919 / 22920
Line(s) used
On-board services
Class(es)AC 3 Tier, Sleeper class
Disabled accessDisabled access
Sleeping arrangementsCouchette car (Bedroll and Linen is provided in AC 3 Tier)
Catering facilitiesOn-board catering available
Observation facilitiesLarge windows in all carriages
Baggage facilitiesUnderseat
Other facilities
  • Smoke alarms
  • CCTV cameras
  • Baby changing table
  • Odour-control system
  • Passenger information system
Technical
Rolling stockLHB coach
Track gauge5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) broad gauge
Operating speed130 km/h (81 mph) (top operating speed)
59 km/h (37 mph) (average including halts)

The maiden run of the train was on 8 May 2017. It ran as Ahmedabad–Chennai Central Humsafar inaugural special express for the very first time and was flagged off by the then Railway Minister, Suresh Prabhu.

Train no. 22920 leaves Ahmedabad Junction at 09:40 every Monday and arrives Chennai Central at 15:25 the next Tuesday. The return train 22919 leaves Chennai Central at 16:00 every Wednesday and arrives Ahmedabad Junction at 21:15 the next Thursday. Chennai-Ahmedabad Humsafar Express runs with an average speed of 59 km/h.

Locomotive

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It is hauled by a Vadodara loco shed-based WAP-7 loco end to end.

Coach composition

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Pure LHB coach in red-grey Rajdhani livery, manufactured in India, are used for this train. Humsafar vinyl or wallpaper pasting is done on the AC-3 Tier coaches to give the humsafar livery. The service was launched with fifteen AC-3 Tier and one Pantry Car.[2] The AC-3 tier coaches were designed by Indian Railways with LED screen display to show information about stations, train speed etc. It is planned to have announcement system, vending machines for tea, coffee and milk, and bio toilets in compartments as well as CCTV cameras.

The service consists of 10 Third AC (3A), 6 Sleeper Class (SL), 1 Seating cum Luggage Rake and 1 Generator car luggage car guard van, hence, a total of 18 coaches. As is customary with most train services in India, the coach composition may be amended at the discretion of Indian Railways depending on demand. Maximum 1–2 extra coaches may be added to clear extra rush during holidays. In September 2019, sleeper coaches were added to the train.[3]

Loco 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
22919  | EOG S1 S2 S3 S4 S5 S6 B10 B9 B8 B7 B6 B5 B4 B3 B2 B1 SLR
22920   SLR B1 B2 B3 B4 B5 B6 B7 B8 B9 B10 S6 S5 S4 S3 S2 S1 EOG

Route and halts

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The schedule of Chennai Central – Ahmedabad Humsafar Express is given below:-[4][5]

MAS - ADI Humsafar Express
22919 Stations 22920
Arrival Departure Arrival Departure
-NIL- 16:00 Chennai Central 15:25 -NIL-
18:30 18:35 Renigunta Junction 12:15 12:20
23:25 23:30 Guntakal Junction 07:00 07:10
01:18 01:20 Raichur 04:43 04:45
03:57 04:00 Kalaburagi 06:35 06:40
06:35 06:40 Solapur Junction 00:15 00:20
10:55 11:05 Pune Junction 20:10 20:15
13:22 13:25 Kalyan Junction 16:52 16:55
14:20 14:25 Vasai Road 15:52 15:57
14:54 14:56 Palghar 15:15 15:17
16:52 16:55 Surat 13:07 13:12
18:33 18:38 Vadodara Junction 11:10 11:15
19:10 19:12 Anand Junction 10:34 10:36
21:15 -NIL- Ahmedabad Junction -NIL- 09:40

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Runs once in a week for every direction.

References

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  1. ^ Singh, Sandeep (3 May 2017). "Humsafar Express Trains Introduced On Ahmedabad-Chennai Route". NDTV. ndtv convergence limited. Retrieved 4 July 2023. The new weekly service from Ahmedabad to Chennai will be available from May 8, 2017
  2. ^ "Press Release — INTRODUCTION OF WEEKLY HUMSAFAR EXPRESS BETWEEN AHMEDABAD AND CHENNAI". Central Railway. 2 May 2017. Retrieved 10 July 2023.
  3. ^ Anbuselvam, B (19 September 2019). "Sleeper coaches in Humsafar Express to cost 15% higher". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 4 July 2023. the base fare of yet to be attached sleeper class in Chennai - Ahmedabad Humsafar will be Rs 770 per berth
  4. ^ "22919/Puratchi Thalaivar Dr. M.G. Ramachandran Central Railway Station - Ahmedabad Junction Humsafar Express". India Rail Info.
  5. ^ "22920/Ahmedabad Junction - Puratchi Thalaivar Dr. M.G. Ramachandran Central Railway Station Humsafar Express". India Rail Info.