Kolkata–Guwahati Garib Rath Express

12157 / 12158 Guwahati – Kolkata Garib Rath Express was a Garib Rath class train of Indian Railways, which use to connect the state capital of West Bengal, Kolkata to the state capital of Assam, Guwahati. The train was operated by the North East Frontier Railway Zone (NFR) of the Indian Railways.

Kolkata–Guwahati Garib Rath Express

Kolkata–Guwahati Garib Rath Express
Overview
Service type	Garib Rath Express
Status	Restarted in 2024 June 21
Locale	Assam, Bihar and West Bengal
First service	29 March 2008; 16 years ago (2008-03-29)
Current operator(s)	Northeast Frontier Railway
Route
Termini	Kolkata (KOAA) Guwahati (GHY)
Stops	13
Distance travelled	1003 km
Average journey time	18 hrs 15 min
Service frequency	Bi-weekly
Train number(s)	12517/12518
On-board services
Class(es)	AC 3 Tier Economy and AC ECONOMY Chair Car
Seating arrangements	Available
Sleeping arrangements	Available
Catering facilities	Available
Observation facilities	Large windows
Baggage facilities	Below the seats
Technical
Rolling stock	LHB Garib Rath Coaches
Track gauge	1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in)
Operating speed	68 km/h

On June 21, 2024, the North East Frontier Railway Zone informed the public that the service of 12157 / 12158 Guwahati - Kolkata Garib Rath Express will be resumed from July onwards. The first service from Kolkata is set to commence on July 7, 2024 onwards. The train share its rake with the Agartala - Kolkata Garib Rath Express, which will commence its journey from July 3, 2024 from Kolkata.^[1]

Details

The train numbered 12517 used to depart from Kolkata (KOAA) Terminus every Thursday and Sunday at 21:40 hours and arrive in Guwahati every Friday and Monday at 15:55 hours. It covered a distance of 1,003 kilometres (623 mi) in 18 hours and 15 minutes with an average moving speed of 55 kilometres per hour (34 mph).^[2]

The reverse connection, train number 12518, used to depart from Guwahati every Wednesday and Saturday at 21:00 hours and arrive at Kolkata Terminus at 15:00 hours on every Thursday and Sunday. It covered a distance of 1,003 km in 18 hours with an average moving speed of 56 km/h.^[3]

During the COVID-19 pandemic, all the train services throughout India was cancelled. However, after the resumption of the train services post the pandemic, this train was not resumed and hence as of now stands cancelled.

A notice has surfaced regarding the restarting of this train service, and in the near future it will run again.

Coach composition

The train consisted of eleven Garib Rath AC 3 Tier Economy coaches and one Garib Rath AC Chair Car coach, along with one Power Car.

Haulage and traction

The train was hauled by New Guwahati (NGC) shed WDM - 3A or WDM - 3D locomotive from end to end.Now The train is hauled by either WAP-4 or WAP-5 till NCB Junction

Major halts

The important intermediate stations where the train stops are as follows-

ASSAM

1. Guwahati (starts)
2. Goalpara Town (2 minutes)
3. New Bongaigaon Junction (2 minutes)
4. Kokrajhar (2 minutes)

BIHAR

1. Kishanganj (2 minutes)

WEST BENGAL

1. New Alipurduar (2 minutes)
2. New Cooch Behar Junction (2 minutes)
3. New Jalpaiguri (Siliguri) (10 minutes)
4. Malda Town (10 minutes)
5. Azimganj Junction (5 minutes)
6. Katwa Junction (2 minutes)
7. Nabadwip Dham (2 minutes)
8. Bandel Junction (2 minutes)
9. Kolkata (ends)

Traction

This train is hauled by Diesel Loco Shed, Siliguri-based WDP-4/ WDP-4D/WDP-4D locomotive.

Other trains on the Kolkata–New Jalpaiguri sector

• 22301/02 Howrah–New Jalpaiguri Vande Bharat Express
• 12041/42 New Jalpaiguri–Howrah Shatabdi Express
• 22309/10 Howrah–New Jalpaiguri AC Express
• 12377/78 Padatik Express
• 12343/44 Darjeeling Mail
• 15959/60 Kamrup Express (via Guwahati)
• 15961/62 Kamrup Express (via Bogibeel)
• 13173/74 Sealdah–Agartala Kanchanjunga Express
• 13175/76 Sealdah–Silchar Kanchanjunga Express
• 12345/46 Saraighat Express
• 15721/22 New Jalpaiguri-Digha Express
• 12525/26 Dibrugarh–Kolkata Superfast Express
• 13141/42 Teesta Torsha Express
• 13147/48 Uttar Banga Express
• 13181/82 Kolkata–Silghat Town Kaziranga Express
• 22511/12 Lokmanya Tilak Terminus–Kamakhya Karmabhoomi Express
• 15643/44 Puri–Kamakhya Weekly Express (via Howrah)
• 12363/64 Kolkata–Haldibari Intercity Express

References

1. IANS (21 June 2024). "Railway to resume Garib Rath Express between Kolkata, Guwahati, Agartala". assamtribune.com. Retrieved 29 June 2024.
2. "Kolkata–Guwahati Garib Rath Express". India Rail Info. Retrieved 9 October 2015.
3. "Guwahati – Kolkata Garib Rath Express". India Rail Info. Retrieved 9 October 2015.