Ajanta Express
Encyclopedia
The Ajanta Express ) is a daily express train in India. It runs between Secunderabad Railway Station
, Andhra Pradesh
and Manmad
Junction, a town in Nasik District of Maharashtra
. The train was mainly introduced to cater to Shirdi Sai Baba
devotees.
, Ashmaka and West Telengana Region. It is also called Kacheguda Express very often by the people travelling on Kacheguda-Nizamabad-Nanded
-Aurangabad Region on Hyderabad-Godavari Valley Railways
.
The train was introduced in around 1975 as a metre gauge
train between Secunderabad Railway Station
, India
and Manmad
, via Nizamabad, Nanded
and Aurangabad. The train became popular in a short time as Manmad
Junction was the point to break the journey for further destinations towards Mumbai
, Itarsi
, Bhopal, Gwalior, New Delhi
, Amritsar
, Howrah, Nagpur
, Indore
, Lucknow
, Guwahati
, Jabalpur, Bangalore
and Ahmedabad
.
The train was re-introduced as broad gauge
between Kachiguda
and Manmad
via Bidar
, Parbhani
, in 1995-1996, as the gauge conversion between Vikarabad and Parbhani
progressed.
In 2007, the train reverted to its original metre gauge route via Nizamabad and Nanded
which was turned into broad gauge in 2002-2003.
When introduced, it was the fastest metre gauge train in India
caves near Aurangabad.
-> Manmad
7064DN Manmad
-> Secunderabad Railway Station
of Guntakal
of South Central Railway
.
The train travels a distance of 663 kilometres in approximately 12 hours 30 minutes.
is also named after the Ellora Caves near Aurangabad. At present 7001/7002 Secunderabad Manmad Shirdi Sainagar Biweekly Express is often unofficially called Ellora Express.
Secunderabad Railway Station
Secunderabad Railway Station , also referred as Secunderabad Junction, is a major intercity rail station and a commuter rail hub in the Hyderabad Urban Area. It is located in the city of Secunderabad and falls under the South Central Railway zone of Indian Railways...
, Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh , is one of the 28 states of India, situated on the southeastern coast of India. It is India's fourth largest state by area and fifth largest by population. Its capital and largest city by population is Hyderabad.The total GDP of Andhra Pradesh is $100 billion and is ranked third...
and Manmad
Manmad
Manmad is one of the cities in Nasik district in the state of Maharashtra state in India. It is the third largest city in Nasik district, with a population of approximately 125,000...
Junction, a town in Nasik District of Maharashtra
Maharashtra
Maharashtra is a state located in India. It is the second most populous after Uttar Pradesh and third largest state by area in India...
. The train was mainly introduced to cater to Shirdi Sai Baba
Sai Baba of Shirdi
Sai Baba of Shirdi , also known as Shirdi Sai Baba , was an Indian guru, yogi, and fakir who is regarded by his Hindu and Muslim devotees as a saint....
devotees.
History
This is recognized as the most prestigious train moving through MarathwadaMarathwada
The name Marathwada identifies one of the five regions in Maharashtra state of India. The region coincides with the Aurangabad Division.-Historical highlights:...
, Ashmaka and West Telengana Region. It is also called Kacheguda Express very often by the people travelling on Kacheguda-Nizamabad-Nanded
Nanded
Nanded is the second largest city in the Marathwada region of Maharashtra, India. It is also headquarters of Nanded district in the Marathwada Division of the state. It is an important holy place for the Sikh faith and is famous for the Hazur Sahib Gurudwara. It is the district headquarters once...
-Aurangabad Region on Hyderabad-Godavari Valley Railways
Hyderabad-Godavari Valley Railways
The Hyderabad-Godavari Valley Railway was established by the Nizam of Hyderabad as a part of The Nizam's Guaranteed State Railway a company under the guarantee of the Hyderabad State...
.
The train was introduced in around 1975 as a metre gauge
Metre gauge
Metre gauge refers to narrow gauge railways and tramways with a track gauge of . In some African, American and Asian countries it is the main gauge. In Europe it has been used for local railways in France, Germany, and Belgium, most of which were closed down in mid 20th century. Only in Switzerland...
train between Secunderabad Railway Station
Secunderabad Railway Station
Secunderabad Railway Station , also referred as Secunderabad Junction, is a major intercity rail station and a commuter rail hub in the Hyderabad Urban Area. It is located in the city of Secunderabad and falls under the South Central Railway zone of Indian Railways...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
and Manmad
Manmad
Manmad is one of the cities in Nasik district in the state of Maharashtra state in India. It is the third largest city in Nasik district, with a population of approximately 125,000...
, via Nizamabad, Nanded
Nanded
Nanded is the second largest city in the Marathwada region of Maharashtra, India. It is also headquarters of Nanded district in the Marathwada Division of the state. It is an important holy place for the Sikh faith and is famous for the Hazur Sahib Gurudwara. It is the district headquarters once...
and Aurangabad. The train became popular in a short time as Manmad
Manmad
Manmad is one of the cities in Nasik district in the state of Maharashtra state in India. It is the third largest city in Nasik district, with a population of approximately 125,000...
Junction was the point to break the journey for further destinations towards Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
, Itarsi
Itarsi
Itarsi is a city in Madhya Pradesh sn central India. Itarsi is located in Hoshangabad District, south of the city of Hoshangabad. Itarsi is a commercial hub for agricultural goods, and is also famous for its railway junction. The Bori Wildlife Sanctuary and Tawa Dam are nearby...
, Bhopal, Gwalior, New Delhi
New Delhi
New Delhi is the capital city of India. It serves as the centre of the Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. New Delhi is situated within the metropolis of Delhi. It is one of the nine districts of Delhi Union Territory. The total area of the city is...
, Amritsar
Amritsar
Amritsar is a city in the northern part of India and is the administrative headquarters of Amritsar district in the state of Punjab, India. The 2001 Indian census reported the population of the city to be over 1,500,000, with that of the entire district numbering 3,695,077...
, Howrah, Nagpur
Nagpur
Nāgpur is a city and winter capital of the state of Maharashtra, the largest city in central India and third largest city in Maharashtra after Mumbai and Pune...
, Indore
Indore
Indore is one of the major city in India, the largest city and commercial center of the state of Madhya Pradesh in central India. Indore is located 190 km west of the state capital Bhopal. According to the 2011 Indian census, Indore city has a population of 1,960,631...
, Lucknow
Lucknow
Lucknow is the capital city of Uttar Pradesh in India. Lucknow is the administrative headquarters of Lucknow District and Lucknow Division....
, Guwahati
Guwahati
Guwahati, Pragjyotishpura in ancient Assam formerly known as Gauhati is a metropolis,the largest city of Assam in India and ancient urban area in North East India, with a population of 963,429. It is also the largest metropolitan area in north-eastern India...
, Jabalpur, Bangalore
Bangalore
Bengaluru , formerly called Bengaluru is the capital of the Indian state of Karnataka. Bangalore is nicknamed the Garden City and was once called a pensioner's paradise. Located on the Deccan Plateau in the south-eastern part of Karnataka, Bangalore is India's third most populous city and...
and Ahmedabad
Ahmedabad
Ahmedabad also known as Karnavati is the largest city in Gujarat, India. It is the former capital of Gujarat and is also the judicial capital of Gujarat as the Gujarat High Court has its seat in Ahmedabad...
.
The train was re-introduced as broad gauge
Broad gauge
Broad-gauge railways use a track gauge greater than the standard gauge of .- List :For list see: List of broad gauges, by gauge and country- History :...
between Kachiguda
Kachiguda
Kachiguda is one of the old suburbs in Hyderabad, India. The third biggest railway station in Hyderabad called as Kachiguda Railway Station built during the Nizam rule, is located here and is a major landmark.- Commercial area :...
and Manmad
Manmad
Manmad is one of the cities in Nasik district in the state of Maharashtra state in India. It is the third largest city in Nasik district, with a population of approximately 125,000...
via Bidar
Bidar
Bidar is a city in the Indian state of Karnataka. Located on the Deccan Plateau in the north-eastern part of Karnataka. It is the headquarters of the Bidar District....
, Parbhani
Parbhani
Parbhani is a city in Parbhani district in the Indian state of Maharashtra. Parbhani, formerly known as “Prabhavatinagar”, is a city in the Marathwada region of Maharashtra. It is the administrative headquarters of Parbhani District.Parbhani is approximately situated at the centre of Maharashtra...
, in 1995-1996, as the gauge conversion between Vikarabad and Parbhani
Parbhani
Parbhani is a city in Parbhani district in the Indian state of Maharashtra. Parbhani, formerly known as “Prabhavatinagar”, is a city in the Marathwada region of Maharashtra. It is the administrative headquarters of Parbhani District.Parbhani is approximately situated at the centre of Maharashtra...
progressed.
In 2007, the train reverted to its original metre gauge route via Nizamabad and Nanded
Nanded
Nanded is the second largest city in the Marathwada region of Maharashtra, India. It is also headquarters of Nanded district in the Marathwada Division of the state. It is an important holy place for the Sikh faith and is famous for the Hazur Sahib Gurudwara. It is the district headquarters once...
which was turned into broad gauge in 2002-2003.
When introduced, it was the fastest metre gauge train in India
Origin of name
The train is named after the AjantaAjanta
The Ajanta Caves in Aurangabad district of Maharashtra, India are 29 rock-cut cave monuments which date from the 2nd century BCE. The caves include paintings and sculptures considered to be masterpieces of both Buddhist religious art as well as frescos which are reminiscent of the Sigiriya...
caves near Aurangabad.
Train details
7063UP Secunderabad Railway StationSecunderabad Railway Station
Secunderabad Railway Station , also referred as Secunderabad Junction, is a major intercity rail station and a commuter rail hub in the Hyderabad Urban Area. It is located in the city of Secunderabad and falls under the South Central Railway zone of Indian Railways...
-> Manmad
Manmad
Manmad is one of the cities in Nasik district in the state of Maharashtra state in India. It is the third largest city in Nasik district, with a population of approximately 125,000...
7064DN Manmad
Manmad
Manmad is one of the cities in Nasik district in the state of Maharashtra state in India. It is the third largest city in Nasik district, with a population of approximately 125,000...
-> Secunderabad Railway Station
Secunderabad Railway Station
Secunderabad Railway Station , also referred as Secunderabad Junction, is a major intercity rail station and a commuter rail hub in the Hyderabad Urban Area. It is located in the city of Secunderabad and falls under the South Central Railway zone of Indian Railways...
Train composition
- 2 SLR Coaches
- 2 Second Sitting
- 1 AC 2 Tier
- 1 AC 3 Tier
- 14 Sleeper Class
Locomotives
The train runs completely on diesel traction and uses WDM3A diesel locomotiveDiesel locomotive
A diesel locomotive is a type of railroad locomotive in which the prime mover is a diesel engine, a reciprocating engine operating on the Diesel cycle as invented by Dr. Rudolf Diesel...
of Guntakal
Guntakal
Guntakal is a town in Anantapur district in the southwestern part of the state of Andhra Pradesh and 50 km away from Bellary of Karnataka, India. It has a population of 2,26,658...
of South Central Railway
South Central Railway
The South Central Railway is one of the 16 railway zones in India. It is headquartered at Secunderabad and has the following divisions:# Secunderabad# Hyderabad# Guntakal # Vijayawada# Guntur# Nanded...
.
Train stops
- ManmadManmadManmad is one of the cities in Nasik district in the state of Maharashtra state in India. It is the third largest city in Nasik district, with a population of approximately 125,000...
- Nagarsol
- Rotegaon
- Lasur
- Aurangabad
- JalnaJalna (city)Jalna is a city and a municipal council in Jalna district in the Indian state of Maharashtra. Jalna was formerly a part of Nizam State as a tahsil of Aurangabad district....
- Partur
- Selu
- Manwath Road
- ParbhaniParbhaniParbhani is a city in Parbhani district in the Indian state of Maharashtra. Parbhani, formerly known as “Prabhavatinagar”, is a city in the Marathwada region of Maharashtra. It is the administrative headquarters of Parbhani District.Parbhani is approximately situated at the centre of Maharashtra...
Jn - Purna Jn
- NandedNandedNanded is the second largest city in the Marathwada region of Maharashtra, India. It is also headquarters of Nanded district in the Marathwada Division of the state. It is an important holy place for the Sikh faith and is famous for the Hazur Sahib Gurudwara. It is the district headquarters once...
- Mudkhed
- DharmabadDharmabadDharmabad is a town and a municipal council in Nanded district in the state of Maharashtra, India. It is located near the state border with Andhra Pradesh. Dharmabad has an average elevation of 359 metres . It is connected by railway...
- BasarBasarBasar or Basara is a census town in Adilabad district in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India. Basara is popular in India because of Saraswathi temple, which is only such temple in entire India.-Geography:Basar is located at...
- Nizamabad
- Kamareddi
- Medchal
- SecunderabadSecunderabadSecunderabad popularly known as the twin city of Hyderabad is located in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh north of Hyderabad. Named after Sikandar Jah, the third Nizam of the Asaf Jahi dynasty, Secunderabad was founded in 1806 AD as a British cantonment...
The train travels a distance of 663 kilometres in approximately 12 hours 30 minutes.
Name
The Ellora Express which was metre gauge used to run between Nizamabad and ManmadManmad
Manmad is one of the cities in Nasik district in the state of Maharashtra state in India. It is the third largest city in Nasik district, with a population of approximately 125,000...
is also named after the Ellora Caves near Aurangabad. At present 7001/7002 Secunderabad Manmad Shirdi Sainagar Biweekly Express is often unofficially called Ellora Express.
See also
- Malwa ExpressMalwa ExpressMalwa Express is a daily superfast express train service which connects Indore Junction BG railway station of Indore, the largest city and commercial hub in Madhya Pradesh, to Jammu Tawi in Jammu & Kashmir, India.- Number and Nomenclature :The 'down' service from Indore runs as number 12919, and...
- Trains of WCRTrains of WCRRail transport in Madhya Pradesh began from year 1903, with the introduction of Delhi-Chennai rail route through the state and Bhopal Junction railway station of Bhopal emerged as the major rail junction on this route...
- Amaravati ExpressAmaravati ExpressAmaravati Express is an important train organized by Indian Railways...
- Avantika ExpressAvantika ExpressThe Avantika Express is a superfast express train service which runs between Indore Junction BG railway station of Indore City in the western part of Madhya Pradesh state and Mumbai Central railway station of Mumbai the capital of Maharashtra...
- Bhopal Express
- Bhopal ShatabdiBhopal ShatabdiBhopal Shatabdi Express is a train operated by the Northern Railway which runs between New Delhi, the main railway station of India's capital territory, New Delhi. and Bhopal Junction the main railway station of Bhopal City, the state capital of central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. The train is...
- Rajkot Secunderabad ExpressRajkot Secunderabad ExpressThe Rajkot Secunderabad Express is an express train operated by South Central Railway zone of the Indian Railways between Secunderabad Railway Station in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh and Rajkot Railway Station in Rajkot, Gujarat.- History :...