View source for Avantika Express

{{short description|Express train service between Mumbai Central and Indore Junction}}
{{Unreferenced|date=May 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2015}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2015}}
{{Infobox rail service
| name = Avantika Express
| image = Avantika exp.jpg
| caption = 
| image_upright = 2
| type = [[Superfast Express trains in India|Superfast]]
| locale = [[Maharashtra]], [[Gujarat]] & [[Madhya Pradesh]]
| first = {{start date and age|df=yes|1985|05|01}}
| last =
| operator = [[Western Railway zone|Western Railways]]
| ridership = 
| start = [[Mumbai Central railway station|Mumbai Central]] '''(MMCT)'''
| stops = 18
| end = [[Indore Junction BG|Indore Junction]] '''(INDB)'''
| distance = {{convert|830|km|0|abbr=on}}
| journeytime = 13 hours
| frequency =  Daily 
| class = AC 1st Class, AC 2 tier, AC 3 tier, Sleeper, Unreserved
| seating = Yes
| sleeping = Yes
| autorack =
| catering = Available but No Pantry Car
| observation = Large windows
| entertainment = 
| baggage = Available
| otherfacilities = 
| stock = [[LHB Coaches]]
| gauge = {{RailGauge|1676mm|allk=on}}
| el = 
| trainnumber = 12961 / 12962
| speed = {{convert|130|km/h|0|abbr=on}} maximum, <br/>{{convert|64|km/h|0|abbr=on}}  average including halts
| map = [[File:Avantika Express Route map.jpg|300px]]
| map_state =
}}

The 12961 / 12962 '''Avantika Express''' is a [[Superfast Express trains in India|Express]] train belonging to [[Indian Railways]] that runs between [[Mumbai Central railway station|Mumbai Central]] and [[Indore Junction BG|Indore]]  in India. It is a daily service. It operates as train number 12961 from [[Mumbai Central railway station|Mumbai Central]] to [[Indore Junction BG|Indore]] and as train number 12962 in the reverse direction.

==Covid Special==
This train was proposed to run by Western Railways as 02961/02962 Avantika Covid Special during the Covid-19 pandemic, according to the letter issued by Western Railway, the covid special train should start from 15 October 2020.

The schedule is delayed by an hour and 45 minutes while running from MMCT, and by 45 minutes when running from INDB, Instead of Un-Reserved coaches,Second Seating coaches are provided by Western Railways.

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:AVANTIKA THIRDAC.jpg|AC COACHES
File:AVANTIKA SLEEPER.jpg|SLEEPER COACHES
File:AVANTIKA EOG.jpg|GENERATOR CAR
</gallery>

== Background ==
When this train was introduced back in 1985 it was called as Bombay Indore Superfast. Later it was renamed as Avantika SF Express. 

The name '''Avantika''' is from 'Avanti', the former name of [[Ujjain]], a historical city located near Indore. This is one of the two superfast train connection between Indore and Mumbai, the another train is [[Indore Duronto Express]].

In February 2019, it was upgraded to [[LHB coaches]].

==Coaches==
Coach Composition may be amended at the discretion of [[Indian Railways]] depending on demand.
In February 2019, it was upgraded to [[LHB coaches]] from [[ICF coaches]].

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders unsortable" style="text-align:center"
|-
!scope="col" rowspan="1" style="background:white;"| '''Loco'''
!scope="col" rowspan="1" style="background:silver;"| '''1'''
!scope="col" rowspan="1" style="background:red;"| '''2'''
!scope="col" rowspan="1" style="background:red;"| '''3'''
!scope="col" rowspan="1" style="background:red;"| '''4'''
!scope="col" rowspan="1" style="background:red;"| '''5'''
!scope="col" rowspan="1" style="background:red;"| '''6'''
!scope="col" rowspan="1" style="background:red;"| '''7'''
!scope="col" rowspan="1" style="background:red;"| '''8'''
!scope="col" rowspan="1" style="background:red;"| '''9'''
!scope="col" rowspan="1" style="background:red;"| '''10'''
!scope="col" rowspan="1" style="background:red;"| '''11'''
!scope="col" rowspan="1" style="background:red;"| '''12'''
!scope="col" rowspan="1" style="background:red;"| '''13'''
!scope="col" rowspan="1" style="background:red;"| '''14'''
!scope="col" rowspan="1" style="background:red;"| '''15'''
!scope="col" rowspan="1" style="background:red;"| '''16'''
!scope="col" rowspan="1" style="background:red;"| '''17'''
!scope="col" rowspan="1" style="background:red;"| '''18'''
!scope="col" rowspan="1" style="background:red;"| '''19'''
!scope="col" rowspan="1" style="background:red;"| '''20'''
!scope="col" rowspan="1" style="background:red;"| '''21'''
!scope="col" rowspan="1" style="background:silver;"| '''22'''
|-
|'''WAP7''' ||'''EOG'''||'''GS'''||'''S1'''||'''S2'''||'''S3'''||'''S4'''||'''S5'''||'''S6'''||'''S7'''||'''S8'''||'''S9'''||'''B1'''
|'''B2'''
|'''B3'''
|'''B4'''
|'''B5'''
|'''B6'''
|'''A1'''
|'''HA1'''
|'''GS'''
|'''GS'''
|'''EOG'''
|}
<nowiki>*</nowiki>Note - The coach composition shown here is for 12961 (Mumbai to Indore).For 12962 (Indore to Mumbai) the composition will be flipped.

==Service==

It is a daily train & covers the distance of 829 kilometres in 13 hours mins as 12961 '''Avantika Express''' (64&nbsp;km/hr) & 13 hours 30 mins as 12962 '''Avantika Express''' (62&nbsp;km/hr).

==Schedule==
The service [[Mumbai Central railway station|Mumbai Central]] every late evening and reaches [[Indore Junction BG|Indore]] the next morning. It follows the same pattern for return service too.
==Locomotive Link==
When Avantika SuperFast was first introduced it was hauled by [[Indian locomotive class WDM-2|WDM-2]] for whole journey. 

After sometime, [[Indian locomotive class WCAM-1|WCAM-1]] became its regular link from Mumbai Central till Ujjain, After Ujjain WDM-2 hauled it complete its journey to Indore. 

When Mumbai's WR was converted into AC current, [[Indian locomotive class WAP-4|WAP-4]] took incharge of Avantika till Ujjain. After sometime Ujjain - Indore line got electrified and WAP-4 hauled it for whole journey. 

After some years, Avantika SuperFast got India's fastest Locomotive [[Indian locomotive class WAP-5|WAP-5]] for its regular link. 

When Avantika SuperFast got upgraded into [[LHB coaches|LHB Coaches]] in 2018 February, its regular link also got upgraded into [[Indian locomotive class WAP-7|WAP-7]] (usually HOG mode). 

All the diesel locomotives were provided by Ratlam LocoShed (RTM) 

All the DC traction Electric locomotives were provided by Valsad LocoShed (BL) 

All the AC traction Electric locomotives are provided by Vadodara LocoShed (BRC) 

{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://indiarailinfo.com/train/101/297/8/1 Avantika Express]
*https://expresstrainroute.com/trains/12961-avantika-sf-express

{{ccat}}

{{Railways in Western India}}
{{Railways in Central India}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Avantika Express}}
[[Category:Express trains in India]]
[[Category:Rail transport in Madhya Pradesh]]
[[Category:Rail transport in Gujarat]]
[[Category:Rail transport in Maharashtra]]
[[Category:Transport in Mumbai]]
[[Category:Transport in Indore]]
[[Category:Transport in Ujjain]]
[[Category:1985 establishments in Maharashtra]]
[[Category:Railway services introduced in 1985]]
[[Category:Named passenger trains of India]]