Ashram Express
Encyclopedia
The Ashram Express is a superfast
express train
on India's broad gauge
network, connecting Ahmedabad
(code: ADI) and Old Delhi
(code: DLI), a distance of approximately 933 km. The train is named after the famous Sabarmati Ashram
in Ahmedabad. The train runs on Indian Railways broad gauge
line. The train's route runs on a broad gauge section converted from metre gauge
in the 1990s. During the metre gauge era, this train ran as the 505/506 Ashram Express.
, Abu Road
, Ajmer
, Jaipur
,[dausa], Alwar and Rewari
. Diesel locomotives are used to haul the train as almost the entire route of the train is on non-electrified track and over 80% of the journey is on a single line section of Indian Railways.
pair or a WDM-2 and WDM-3A, homed at Abu Road (code: ABR) Diesel Loco shed. However, starting in 2009, the train has also been powered by a single WDP4 locomotive belonging to the Bhagat Ki Kothi (Code: BGKT) shed (located near Jodhpur
).
) 2100 (H/1A) to INR 170 (General). This train is very popular and is almost always overbooked. The Ashram Express is designated as a superfast train, which denotes that it gets priority over local (commuter) trains, standard express and passenger trains and most freight trains.
Superfast Mail/Express
Superfast Mail/Express trains are faster Express rail service of India with Superfast charge levied over Mail/Express charges. Superfast trains make small number of stops, unlike Mail/Express and hence cover the same distance in marginally lower time span, as compared to their counterparts...
express train
Train
A train is a connected series of vehicles for rail transport that move along a track to transport cargo or passengers from one place to another place. The track usually consists of two rails, but might also be a monorail or maglev guideway.Propulsion for the train is provided by a separate...
on India's 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 :...
network, connecting 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...
(code: ADI) and Old Delhi
Delhi
Delhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census...
(code: DLI), a distance of approximately 933 km. The train is named after the famous Sabarmati Ashram
Sabarmati Ashram
Sabarmati Ashram is located in the Ahmedabad suburb of Sabarmati adjoining to famous Ashram Road, at the bank of River Sabarmati, 4 miles from the town hall. This was one of the residences of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi...
in Ahmedabad. The train runs on Indian Railways 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 :...
line. The train's route runs on a broad gauge section converted from 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...
in the 1990s. During the metre gauge era, this train ran as the 505/506 Ashram Express.
Schedule and route
The Ashram Express runs daily. As of July 7, 2011, 12915 departs ADI at 1830 hrs and arrives at DLI at 1010 hrs the next day. 12916 departs DLI at 1520 hrs and arrives at ADI at 0740 hrs the next day, averaging 60 km/h on both runs. In its journey, the train passes through the Indian states of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana and Delhi. Some cities where the Ashram Express halts en route are PalanpurPalanpur
Palanpur is a city and a municipality of Banaskantha district in the Indian state of Gujarat. Palanpur is the largest city and the administrative headquarters of the district....
, Abu Road
Abu Road
Abu Road is a city in Sirohi district of Rajasthan state in western India. It lies southeast of Mount Abu and its train station is a stop on the main Indian Railways line between Delhi and Ahmedabad. Mount Abu is 27 km up the hill from Abu Road.-History:...
, Ajmer
Ajmer
Ajmer , formerly written as Ajmere, is a city in Ajmer District in Rajasthan state in India. Ajmer has a population of around 800,000 , and is located west of the Rajasthan state capital Jaipur, 200 km from Jodhpur, 274 km from Udaipur, 439 km from Jaisalmer, and 391 km from...
, Jaipur
Jaipur
Jaipur , also popularly known as the Pink City, is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Rajasthan. Founded on 18 November 1727 by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, the ruler of Amber, the city today has a population of more than 3.1 million....
,[dausa], Alwar and Rewari
Rewari
Rewari is a city and a municipal council in Rewari district in the Indian state of Haryana. It is located in south-west Haryana around from Delhi and from Gurgaon.- Etymology :...
. Diesel locomotives are used to haul the train as almost the entire route of the train is on non-electrified track and over 80% of the journey is on a single line section of Indian Railways.
Rake and locomotive
The Ashram Express has, on a regular basis, at least 24 carriages, making it one of the longest (in terms of rake length) express trains running on the Indian Railways network. Due to the rake length, this train has traditionally been powered by two paired diesel locomotives, connected at the head of the rake. The locomotives are usually an Indian locomotive class WDM-2Indian locomotive class WDM-2
The class WDM-2 is Indian Railways' workhorse diesel locomotive. The first units were imported fully built from the American Locomotive Company in 1962. Since 1964, it has been manufactured in India by the Diesel Locomotive Works , Varanasi. The model name stands for broad gauge , diesel , mixed...
pair or a WDM-2 and WDM-3A, homed at Abu Road (code: ABR) Diesel Loco shed. However, starting in 2009, the train has also been powered by a single WDP4 locomotive belonging to the Bhagat Ki Kothi (Code: BGKT) shed (located near Jodhpur
Jodhpur
Jodhpur , is the second largest city in the Indian state of Rajasthan. It is located west from the state capital, Jaipur and from the city of Ajmer. It was formerly the seat of a princely state of the same name, the capital of the kingdom known as Marwar...
).
Other details
The train's 24 carriage rake is split into at least four classes of travel, AC 1st class (code: H/1A), AC 2 Tier (code: A/2A), AC 3 Tier (code:B/3A) and non air-conditioned reserved sleeper (SL). Also, at least 2 carriages requiring no previous travel reservation (code: General) are available to board. The passenger fare between ADI and DLI varies from INR (Indian rupeeIndian rupee
The Indian rupee is the official currency of the Republic of India. The issuance of the currency is controlled by the Reserve Bank of India....
) 2100 (H/1A) to INR 170 (General). This train is very popular and is almost always overbooked. The Ashram Express is designated as a superfast train, which denotes that it gets priority over local (commuter) trains, standard express and passenger trains and most freight trains.