Avantika Express


Avantika Express is a superfast express train belonging to Indian Railways that runs between Mumbai Central and Indore 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.

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.
Loco12345678910111213141516171819202122
WAP7EOGGSS1S2S3S4S5S6S7S8S9B1B2B3B4B5B6A1HA1GSGSEOG

*Note - The coach composition shown here is for 12961.For 12962 the composition will be flipped.

Service

It is a daily train & covers the distance of 829 kilometres in 13 hours 55 mins as 12961 Avantika Express & 13 hours 45 mins as 12962 Avantika Express.

Schedule

The service Mumbai Central every late evening and reaches 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 WDM-2 for whole journey.
After sometime, WCAM-1 became its regular link from Mumbai Central till Ujjain, After Ujjain WDM-2 hauled it complete it's journey to Indore.
When Mumbai's WR was converted into AC current, WAP-4 took incharge of Avantika till Ujjain. After sometime Ujjain - Indore line got electrified amd WAP-4 hauled it for whole journey.
After some years, Avantika SuperFast got India's fastest Locomotive WAP-5 for its regular link.
When Avantika SuperFast got upgraded into LHB Coaches in 2018 February, it's regular link also got upgraded into WAP-7.
All the diesel locomotivea were provided by Ratlam LocoShed
All the DC traction Electric locomotives were provided by Valsad LocoShed
All the AC traction Electric locomotives are provided by Vadodara LocoShed