>Colonies Chris at 13:18, 6 July 2021

2021-07-06T13:18:52Z

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{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2016}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2016}}
{{Infobox rail service
| box_width = 23em
| name = Falaknuma Express
| image = Falaknuma Express 2.jpg
| imagewidth = 200px
| caption =
| type = [[Superfast Express trains in India|Superfast]]
| locale = [[Telangana]], [[Andhra Pradesh]], [[Odisha]] & [[West Bengal]]
| first = {{start date and age|df=yes|1993|10|15}}
| last =
| operator = [[South Central Railway zone|South Central Railways]]
| ridership =
| start = {{stnlnk|Secunderabad}} (SC)
| stops = 24
| end = {{stnlnk|Howrah}} (HWH)
| distance = {{convert|1544|km|0|abbr=on}}
| journeytime = 25 hours 45 minutes
| frequency = Daily
| class = AC First, AC 2 Tier, AC 3 Tier, Sleeper Class, General Unreserved
| seating = Yes
| sleeping = Yes
| autorack =
| catering = Available
| observation = Rake sharing with 17063/17064 [[Ajanta Express]]
| entertainment =
| baggage = Below the seats
| otherfacilities =
| stock = [[ICF coaches]]
| gauge = {{track gauge|1676mm}} <br> [[broad gauge]]
| el =
| trainnumber = 12703 / 12704
| speed = {{convert|110|km/h|0|abbr=on}} maximum, <br>
{{convert|60|km/h|0|abbr=on}} average with halts
| map = [[File:Falaknuma Express (SC - HWH) Route map.jpg|250px]]
| map_state =
}}

The 12703 / 12704 '''Falaknuma Express''' is a Superfast Express train belonging to [[South Central Railway zone]] that runs between [[Secunderabad]] and [[Howrah]] in India. It is currently being operated with 12703/12704 train numbers on daily basis.<ref>{{cite web|title=Train Name Index|url=http://www.indianrailways.gov.in/railwayboard/uploads/directorate/coaching/TAG_2015-16/Train_Name_index.pdf|website=Portal of Indian Railways|accessdate=31 May 2017|page=13|format=PDF}}</ref>

==Overview==

The train is named after the world-famous [[Falaknuma Palace]] in [[Hyderabad, India]]. [[Falaknuma]] is a Persian word (Persian—فلک ا نمایش), which means "Reflections of Sky/Heaven".

It runs daily and connects important stations such as [[Guntur]], [[Vijayawada]], [[Eluru]], [[Rajahmundry]], [[Vishakhapatnam]], [[Vizianagaram]], [[Bhubaneswar]] and [[Kharagpur]]. It is a fast alternative to other trains such as [[East Coast Express]], [[Guwahati–Secunderabad Express]], [[Shalimar–Secunderabad AC Superfast Express]] and Shalimar–Secunderabad Superfast Express. Compared to the other trains from Secunderabad to [[Kolkata]], it covers lesser distance as it runs via the [[Nalgonda]], [[Guntur]] route. It is the fastest superfast express between Secunderabad and Visakhapatnam other than [[Visakhapatnam–Secunderabad Duronto Express]] & [[Visakhapatnam–Secunderabad Garib Rath Express]]. The train runs jampacked throughout the year because people prefer this train as it has lesser halts than other trains on this route. Besides being superfast, the train is most neat and clean after trains like [[Shatabdi Express]], [[Rajdhani Express]] and [[Duronto Express]] and other superfast trains in India.

The 12703/Howrah–Secunderabad Falaknuma Express has an average speed of 60 km/h and covers 1544 km in 25h 40m. The 12704/Secunderabad–Howrah Falaknuma Express, with the same average speed, covers the same distance in 25h 50m.

==Timings==

The train departs from Platform #21 of [[Howrah Junction]] at 07:25 IST and arrives in Platform #2,6 of [[Secunderabad Junction]] at 09:05 IST, the next day. From Platform #1 of Secunderabad, the train departs at 15:55 IST and arrives in Platform #20 of Howrah at 17:45 IST, the next day.

==Route & Halts==

The train runs from Secunderabad via {{stnlnk|Nalgonda}}, {{stnlnk|Guntur}}, {{stnlnk|Vijayawada Junction}}, {{stnlnk|Eluru}}, {{stnlnk|Tadepalligudem}}, {{stnlnk|Rajahmundry}}, {{stnlnk|Samalkot}}, {{stnlnk|Visakhapatnam Junction}}, {{stnlnk|Vizianagaram}}, {{stnlnk|Srikakulam Road}}, {{stnlnk|Palasa}}, {{stnlnk|Brahmapur}}, {{stnlnk|Khurda Road Junction}}, {{stnlnk|Bhubaneswar}}, {{stnlnk|Cuttack Junction}}, {{stnlnk|Bhadrak}}, {{stnlnk|Balasore}}, {{stnlnk|Kharagpur Junction}} to Howrah.

==Classes==

The train usually consists of a massive load of 24 standard ICF coaches:

* 1 AC First Cum Two Tier
* 1 AC Two Tier
* 3 AC Three Tiers
* 13 Sleeper classes
* 1 Pantry car
* 3 General (unreserved)
* 2 Seating (Disabled/Ladies) Cum Luggage Rakes

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

==Coach composition==

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders unsortable" style="text-align:center"
|-
!scope="col" rowspan="1" style="background:grey;"| Loco
!scope="col" rowspan="1" style="background:lime;"| 1
!scope="col" rowspan="1" style="background:lime;"| 2
!scope="col" rowspan="1" style="background:lightskyblue;"| 3
!scope="col" rowspan="1" style="background:lightskyblue;"| 4
!scope="col" rowspan="1" style="background:lightskyblue;"| 5
!scope="col" rowspan="1" style="background:lightskyblue;"| 6
!scope="col" rowspan="1" style="background:lightskyblue;"| 7
!scope="col" rowspan="1" style="background:lightskyblue;"| 8
!scope="col" rowspan="1" style="background:lightskyblue;"| 9
!scope="col" rowspan="1" style="background:lightskyblue;"| 10
!scope="col" rowspan="1" style="background:lightskyblue;"| 11
!scope="col" rowspan="1" style="background:lightskyblue;"| 12
!scope="col" rowspan="1" style="background:lightskyblue;"| 13
!scope="col" rowspan="1" style="background:lightskyblue;"| 14
!scope="col" rowspan="1" style="background:cyan;"| 15
!scope="col" rowspan="1" style="background:lightskyblue;"| 16
!scope="col" rowspan="1" style="background:pink;"| 17
!scope="col" rowspan="1" style="background:pink;"| 18
!scope="col" rowspan="1" style="background:pink;"| 19
!scope="col" rowspan="1" style="background:pink;"| 20
!scope="col" rowspan="1" style="background:pink;"| 21
!scope="col" rowspan="1" style="background:lime;"| 22
!scope="col" rowspan="1" style="background:lime;"| 23
!scope="col" rowspan="1" style="background:lime;"| 24
|-
|[[File:BSicon LDER.svg|25px]] ||SLR||GEN||S1||S2||S3||S4||S5||S6||S7||S8||S9||S10||S11||S12||PC||S13||B1||B2||B3||A1||HA1||GEN||GEN||SLR
|}

==Gallery==

<gallery>
File:Falaknuma - Ajantha Express Name Boards.jpeg|12703/12704 Falaknuma Express name boards

File:Falaknuma - Ajantha Express Nane Plates on SLRD.jpg|12703/12704 Falaknuma Express name plate on SLRD

File:Falaknuma Express.jpg|Falaknuma Express at Nalgonda with Kazipet Junction-based twin WDG-3A loco
</gallery>

==Loco link==

1. A [[Electric Loco Shed, Lallaguda|Lallaguda]]-based [[WAP-7]] or [[Electric Loco Shed, Vijayawada|Vijayawada]]-based [[WAP-4]] electric locomotive pulls it from Secunderabad to [[Visakhapatnam]].

2. The train reverses direction at Vishakhapatnam and gets a {{stnlnk|Santragachi}} or [[Electric Loco Shed, Howrah|Howrah]]-based [[WAP-4]] electric locomotive for the rest way up to Howra].

==Rake sharing==

The 12703/12704 Falaknuma Express previously used to share its rakes with 12733/12734 [[Narayanadri Express]] (Secunderabad–[[Tirupati]]), but now, it shares its rakes 17063/17064 [[Ajanta Express]] (Secunderabad–[[Manmad]]).

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* [http://runningstatus.in/status/12703 Falaknuma train status]

{{South Central Railway zone}}
|{{Railways in Eastern India}}
{{Railways in Southern India}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Falaknuma Express}}
[[Category:Rail transport in Howrah]]
[[Category:Named passenger trains of India]]
[[Category:Transport in Secunderabad]]
[[Category:Express trains in India]]
[[Category:Rail transport in Telangana]]
[[Category:Rail transport in Andhra Pradesh]]
[[Category:Rail transport in West Bengal]]
[[Category:Rail transport in Odisha]]

Falaknuma Express - Revision history

>Colonies Chris at 13:18, 6 July 2021