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{{Italic title}}{{short description|Train in India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2016}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2016}}
{{More citations needed|date=August 2024}}
{{Infobox rail service
| box_width = 25em
| name = Agnibina Express
| image =
| caption =
| type = [[Superfast Express trains in India|Superfast Express]]
| status =
| locale = [[West Bengal]]
| first = {{start date and age|df=yes|1976|08|15}}
| operator = [[Eastern Railway zone|Eastern Railway]]
| ridership =
| start = {{stnlnk|Howrah}} (HWH)
| stops = 6
| end = {{stnlnk|Asansol}} (ASN)
| distance = {{convert|200|km|0|abbr=on}}
| journeytime = 3 hours 10 minutes
| frequency = Daily{{efn|Runs seven days in a week for every direction.}}
| class = AC Chair Car, Second Seating, General Unreserved
| seating = Yes
| sleeping = No
| autorack =
| catering = E-catering only
| observation = Large windows
| entertainment =
| baggage = Available
| otherfacilities = Below the seats
| stock = [[LHB coach]]
| gauge = {{track gauge|1676mm}}
| trainnumber = 12341 / 12342
| el =
| speed = {{convert|63|km/h|0|abbr=on}} avg
{{convert|130|km/h|0|abbr=on}} max
| map =
}}

The 12341 / 12342 '''Agnibina Express''' is a daily superfast train that runs in the state of [[West Bengal]], between {{stnlnk|Howrah Junction}} and {{stnlnk|Asansol Junction}}. The train belongs to [[Eastern Railway zone|Eastern Railway]], maintained at Howrah. It connects the major coal and steel industrial cities of [[Asansol]], [[Raniganj]], [[Andal, Paschim Bardhaman|Andal]] and [[Durgapur]] to the capital city of [[Kolkata]], and is therefore, a very important train on the route for daily passengers.

Initially known as the Asansol Express, the train was renamed the Agnibina Express as a tribute to [[Kazi Nazrul Islam]], whose birthplace is near Asansol and whose first poetry book was titled ''[[Agnibeena|Agnibina]]''. However, unofficially, the train is often referred to as the Bidhan Express.

==Route and halts==
* {{stnlnk|Howrah Junction}}
* {{stnlnk|Barddhaman Junction}}
* [[Mankar]]
* [[Panagarh]]
* {{stnlnk|Durgapur}}
* {{stnlnk|Andal Junction}}
* {{stnlnk|Raniganj}}
* {{stnlnk|Asansol Junction}}

==Schedule==
''Agnibina Express'' runs 7 days a week in both directions. 12342 departs Asansol Jn at 05:30 and reaches Howrah Jn at 08:50, while 12341 departs Howrah Jn at 18:20 and reaches Asansol Jn at 21:30, covering 200 km in 3 hours and 10–20 minutes. The average speed remains around {{convert|60–63|km/h|0|abbr=on}}, and the maximum permissible speed is {{convert|130|km/h|0|abbr=on}} throughout its journey.

=== 12342 ===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Sl No. !! Station code !! Station name !! Time (IST) !! Distance (KM) !! Day
|-
| 1 || ASN || {{stnlnk|Asansol Junction}} || 05:30 || 0 (Source) || 1
|-
| 2 || RNG || {{stnlnk|Raniganj}} || 05:41 || 19 || 1
|-
| 3 || UDL || {{stnlnk|Andal Junction}} || 05:48 || 26 || 1
|-
| 4 || DGR || {{stnlnk|Durgapur}} || 06:01 || 43 || 1
|-
| 5 || PAN || Panagarh || 06:15 || 58 || 1
|-
| 6 || MNAE || {{stnlnk|Mankar}} || 06:25|| 68 || 1
|-
| 7 || BWN || {{stnlnk|Barddhaman Junction}} || 07:05|| 106 || 1
|-
| 8 || HWH || {{stnlnk|Howrah}} || 09:00 || 200 (Destination) || 1
|}

=== 12341 ===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Sl No. !! Station code !! Station name !! Time (IST) !! Distance (KM) !! Day
|-
| 1 || HWH || {{stnlnk|Howrah Junction}} || 18:20|| 0 (Source) || 1
|-
| 2 || BWN || {{stnlnk|Barddhaman Junction}} || 19:17 || 95 || 1
|-
| 3 || MNAE || Mankar || 19:52|| 132 || 1
|-
| 4 || PAN || Panagarh || 20:02|| 143 || 1
|-
| 5 || DGR || {{stnlnk|Durgapur}} || 20:15 || 159 || 1
|-
| 6 || UDL || {{stnlnk|Andal Junction}} || 20:29|| 175 || 1
|-
| 7 || RNG || {{stnlnk|Raniganj}} || 20:42 || 182 || 1
|-
| 8 || ASN || {{stnlnk|Asansol Junction}} || 21:30 || 200 (Destination) || 1
|}

==Coach composition and rake sharing==
The train consists of 18 coaches which includes 2 air-conditioned chair cars, 5 second seating chair cars, 10 general cars (including 1 SLR and 1 LDS) and 1 EOG cum luggage break van. The train has run with [[LHB coach|LHB]] rakes since 2018.

It shares its rakes with the [[Shantiniketan Express]] and the [[Coalfield Express]].

==Traction==
It is hauled by a [[Electric Loco Shed, Howrah|Howrah]]-based [[WAP-7]] or [[Indian locomotive class WAP-5|WAP-5]] locomotive throughout its entire journey.

==Notes==
The train started as [[Chittaranjan railway station|Chittaranjan]]–Howrah Bidhan Express, but was later temporarily terminated at [[Asansol]] for operational reasons during the 1970s.

== See also ==

* [[Howrah Junction railway station]]
* [[Asansol Junction railway station]]
* [[Shantiniketan Express]]
* [[Coalfield Express]]
* [[Black Diamond Express]]

==External links==

* [https://indiarailinfo.com/train/2 12341/Agnibina (Bidhan) Express] India Rail Info
* [https://indiarailinfo.com/train/agnibina-bidhan-express-12342/3/7/1 12342/Agnibina (Bidhan) Express] India Rail Info

==References==
{{DEFAULTSORT:Agniveena Express}}
[[Category:Rail transport in Howrah]]
[[Category:Transport in Asansol]]
[[Category:Named passenger trains of India]]
[[Category:Express trains in India]]
[[Category:Rail transport in West Bengal]]
[[Category:Railway services introduced in 1976]]
<references />
{{reflist|group=lower-alpha}}

Agnibina Express - Revision history

Flash255 at 16:08, 24 February 2026