Maryslanker at 22:43, 30 April 2026

2026-04-30T22:43:23Z

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{{Italic title}}{{more citations needed|date=January 2024}}
{{short description|Train in India }}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2015}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2015}}
{{Infobox rail service
| name = Avantika Superfast Express
| logo =
| image = Avantika SF Express New Nameplate.jpg
| caption = Avantika SF Express train board
| 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 Railway]]
| ridership =
| start = {{stnlnk|Mumbai Central}} (MMCT)
| stops = 18
| end = {{stnlnk|Indore Junction}} (INDB)
| distance = {{convert|830|km|0|abbr=on}}
| journeytime = 12 Hours 15 Minutes
| frequency = Daily
| class = AC First Class, AC 2 Tier, AC 3 Tier, AC 3 Tier Economy, Sleeper Class, General Unreserved
| seating = Yes
| sleeping = Yes
| autorack =
| catering = Available but no pantry car
| observation = Rake sharing with 12927/12928 Dadar Western-Ekta Nagar Express
| entertainment =
| baggage = Available
| otherfacilities = Below the seats
| stock = [[LHB coach]]
| gauge = {{track gauge|1676mm|allk=on}}
| el =
| trainnumber = 12961 / 12962
| speed = {{convert|130|km/h|0|abbr=on}} maximum, <br/>{{convert|68|km/h|0|abbr=on}} average including halts.
| map = [[File:Avantika Express Route map.jpg|250px]]
| map_state =
}}

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

== Background ==
When this train was introduced back in 1985 it was called as Bombay–Indore Superfast. Later it was renamed as Avantika Superfast Express.
For about a couple of years, in mid 1990s, the termination of train was changed from Mumbai Central to Bandra Terminus (A western Suburban terminus station). The order was reversed and from 1998 the train started going up to Mumbai Central.
<gallery mode="packed" heights="200">
File:12962 Avantika Express.jpg
</gallery>

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 connections between Indore and Mumbai, the other train is [[Indore Duronto Express]].

In February 2019, it was upgraded to [[LHB coach]].<ref>{{cite news |title=15 Trains Originating From Indore to be Get LHB coach |url=https://www.news18.com/news/india/15-trains-originating-from-indore-to-be-get-lhb-coaches-4265078.html |access-date=5 September 2022 |publisher=News18 |date=30 Sep 2021 |language=English}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=Staff Reporter |title=Indore: Additional coaches will be added to 10 pairs of trains |url=https://www.freepressjournal.in/indore/indore-additional-coaches-will-be-added-to-10-pairs-of-trains |access-date=5 September 2022 |publisher=Free Press Journal |date=31 Mar 2022 |language=English}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Lashkari |first1=Milind R |title=Avantika Express to have LHB coach |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/indore/avantika-express-to-have-lhb-coaches/story-ci7soIhok4o4oYwWgQLc8J.html |publisher=Hindustan Times |date=23 Nov 2016 |language=English}}</ref>

==Service==

It is a daily train and covers the distance of 829 kilometres in 12 hours 10 mins as 12961 Avantika SF Express (68 km/h) and 13 hours 5 mins as 12962 Avantika SF Express (64 km/h).

It is one of the fastest train on this route and one of the only two trains connecting [[Mumbai Central railway station|MMCT]] to [[Indore Junction railway station|INDB]], the other one being [[Mumbai Central–Indore Duronto Express|Mumbai Indore Duronto Express]] which covers the distance of 829 kilometers in just 11 hours 15 mins (73 km/h) due to its premium priority and less stoppages.

Avantika Superfast Express is highly rated amongst its commuters and railfans due to its cleanliness, safety, and punctuality, more often than not this train usually reaches the stations before its scheduled time.

==Schedule==
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="4" |12961 Mumbai ⇒ Indore
! colspan="4" |12962 Indore ⇒ Mumbai
|-
! Station code !! Station !! Arrival time !! Departure time !! Station code !! Station !! Arrival time
!Departure time
|-
| '''MMCT'''|| '''{{rws|Mumbai Central}}'''|| – || 08:55 PM || '''INDB'''|| '''{{rws|Indore Junction}}'''|| –
|05:40 PM
|-
|BVI
|[[Borivali railway station|Borivali]]
|09:21 PM
|09:24 PM
|DWX
|[[Dewas Junction railway station|Dewas Junction]]
|06:06 PM
|06:08 PM
|-
|VAPI
|[[Vapi railway station|Vapi]]
|10:51 PM
|10:53 PM
|'''UJN'''
|[[Ujjain Junction railway station|'''Ujjain Junction''']]
|06:50 PM
|06:55 PM
|-
|BL
|[[Valsad railway station|Valsad]]
|11:13 PM
|11:15 PM
|'''NAD'''
|[[Nagda Junction railway station|'''Nagda Junction''']]
|07:48 PM
|07:50 PM
|-
|NVS
|[[Navsari railway station|Navsari]]
|11:39 PM
|11:41 PM
|KUH
|[[Khachrod railway station|Khachrod]]
|08:00 PM
|08:02 PM
|-
|'''ST'''
|[[Surat railway station|'''Surat''']]
|12:22 AM
|12:27 AM
|'''RTM'''
|[[Ratlam Junction railway station|'''Ratlam Junction''']]
|08:30 PM
|08:35 PM
|-
|AKV
|[[Ankleshwar Junction railway station|Ankleshwar Junction]]
|12:58 AM
|01:00 AM
|BMI
|[[Bamnia railway station|Bamnia]]
|09:13 PM
|09:14 PM
|-
|BH
|[[Bharuch Junction railway station|Bharuch Junction]]
|01:10 AM
|01:12 AM
|THRD
|[[Thandla Road railway station|Thandla Road]]
|09:36 PM
|09:37 PM
|-
|'''BRC'''
|[[Vadodara Junction railway station|'''Vadodara Junction''']]
|02:02 AM
|02:12 AM
|MGN
|[[Meghnagar railway station|Meghnagar]]
|09:44 PM
|09:46 PM
|-
|GDA
|[[Godhra Junction railway station|Godha Junction]]
|03:13 AM
|03:15 AM
|DHD
|[[Dahod railway station|Dahod]]
|10:10 PM
|10:12 PM
|-
|DHD
|[[Dahod railway station|Dahod]]
|04:01 AM
|04:03 AM
|GDA
|[[Godhra Junction railway station|Godha Junction]]
|11:35 PM
|11:37 PM
|-
|MGN
|[[Meghnagar railway station|Meghnagar]]
|04:26 AM
|04:28 AM
|'''BRC'''
|[[Vadodara Junction railway station|'''Vadodara Junction''']]
|12:30 AM
|12:38 AM
|-
|THRD
|[[Thandla Road railway station|Thandla Road]]
|04:38 AM
|04:39 AM
|BH
|[[Bharuch Junction railway station|Bharuch Junction]]
|01:23 AM
|01:25 AM
|-
|BMI
|[[Bamnia railway station|Bamnia]]
|05:09 AM
|05:10 AM
|'''''—'''''
|'''''—'''''
|—
|—
|-
|'''RTM'''
|[[Ratlam Junction railway station|'''Ratlam Junction''']]
|05:50 AM
|05:55 AM
|'''ST'''
|[[Surat railway station|'''Surat''']]
|02:29 AM
|02:34 AM
|-
|KUH
|[[Khachrod railway station|Khachrod]]
|06:19 AM
|06:21 AM
|NVS
|[[Navsari railway station|Navsari]]
|02:56 AM
|02:58 AM
|-
|'''NAD'''
|[[Nagda Junction railway station|'''Nagda Junction''']]
|06:38 AM
|06:40 AM
|BL
|[[Valsad railway station|Valsad]]
|03:29 AM
|03:34 AM
|-
|'''UJN'''
|[[Ujjain Junction railway station|'''Ujjain Junction''']]
|07:30 AM
|07:35 AM
|VAPI
|[[Vapi railway station|Vapi]]
|03:50 AM
|03:52 AM
|-
|DWX
|[[Dewas Junction railway station|Dewas Junction]]
|08:10 AM
|08:12 AM
|BVI
|[[Borivali railway station|Borivali]]
|05:38 AM
|05:41 AM
|-
| '''INDB''' || '''{{rws|Indore Junction}}''' || 09:10 AM || – || '''MMCT''' || {{rws|Mumbai Central}} || 06:30 AM
|–
|}

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

{| 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'''
|-
|'''LOCO''' ||'''EoG'''||'''GS'''||'''GS'''||'''GS'''||'''GS'''||'''S1'''||'''S2'''||'''S3'''||'''S4'''||'''S5'''||'''S6'''||'''M1'''
|'''M2'''
|'''B1'''
|'''B2'''
|'''B3'''
|'''B4'''
|'''A1'''
|'''A2'''
|'''A3'''
|'''H1'''
|'''SLR'''
|}
<nowiki>*</nowiki>Note – The coach composition shown here is for 12961 (Mumbai to Indore).For 12962 (Indore to Mumbai) the composition will be flipped.

==Gallery==
<gallery mode="slideshow">
File:Avantika SF Express Three Tier AC.jpg
File:AVANTIKA THIRDAC.jpg|AC Coaches
File:AVANTIKA SLEEPER.jpg|Sleeper Coaches
File:AVANTIKA EOG.jpg|Generator Car
File:12962 Avantika Express.jpg|Former nameplate of ICF rakes
File:Avantika Express - Sleeper coach.jpg|Former Sleeper Coach in ICF rakes
File:Avantika model.jpg|Former nameplate of ICF rakes (notice the first digit [1] added later on in different colour as the trains in IR earlier followed 4 digit numbering system)
File:12961 Avantika Express.jpg|Former nameplate for ICF rakes (notice the first digit [1] added later on as the trains in IR earlier followed 4 digit numbering system)
File:Avantika Express at Indore Lokmanya Nagar.jpg|Former ICF rakes being sheltered at Indore
File:Avantika Exp at INDB.jpg|Former ICF rakes being backed into INDB station
File:Avanti Gn.jpg|General Unreserved coach of former ICF rakes
File:AC First Class Coach Indore.jpg|AC First Class coach of former ICF rakes
</gallery>

==Locomotive link==
When Avantika Superfast was first introduced it was hauled by [[Indian locomotive class WDM-2|WDM-2]] for the whole journey.

After some time, [[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 coach]] in 2019 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 Loco Shed (RTM)
*All the DC-traction electric locomotives were provided by [[Electric Loco Shed, Valsad|Valsad Loco Shed]] (BL)
*All the AC-traction electric locomotives are provided by [[Electric Loco Shed, Vadodara|Vadodara Loco She]]d (BRC)

<gallery mode="packed" heights="200">
File:RTM based WDM-2A loco - 16813 at Vadodara.jpg| WDM2A
File:Pune bound 11095 (ADI-PUNE) Ahimsa Express.jpg| WCAM1
File:BRC WAP4E ^22676 sleeping silently - Flickr - Dr. Santulan Mahanta.jpg | WAP4e
File:WAP5 with Indore Pune Exp.jpg | WAP5
File:BRC FORTUNE WAP7.jpg| WAP7
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist}}

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

{{commons category}}

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

{{DEFAULTSORT:Avantika Express}}
[[Category:Superfast Express trains]]
[[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]]

Avantika Superfast Express - Revision history

Maryslanker at 22:43, 30 April 2026