Godavari Express

The 12727/12728 Godavari Express is an express train of the South Central Railway, operating between Hyderabad[1] and Visakhapatnam.

Not to be confused with Godavari Superfast Express.

Godavari Express
Godavari Express trainboard
Overview
Service typeSuperfast
LocaleTelangana & Andhra Pradesh
First service1 February 1974 (1974-02-01)
Current operator(s)South Central Railways
Route
StartHyderabad Deccan (HYB)
Stops18
EndVisakhapatnam (VSKP)
Distance travelled710 km (441 mi)
Average journey time12 hours,25 minutes
Service frequencyDaily
Train number(s)12727 / 12728
On-board services
Class(es)AC 2 Tier, AC 3 Tier, Sleeper class, General Unreserved
Seating arrangementsYes
Sleeping arrangementsYes
Catering facilitiesOn-board catering
Observation facilitiesLarge windows
Baggage facilitiesBelow the seats
Technical
Rolling stockLHB coaches
Track gaugeBroad gauge (1,676 mm)
Operating speed57 km/h (35 mph) average including halts
Route map

The route map of Godavari Express showing most of the stops en route.

On February 1, 1974, the Indian Railways announced the first railway service between Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam, the Waltair-Hyderabad Express. In the early days, the train ran daily departing from Visakhapatnam station at 5:20 p.m. in the evening and arriving on Hyderabad station at 6:45 a.m. the next morning. During the return journey, the train departed Hyderabad at 5:15 p.m. and arrived at Visakhapatnam station at 5:50 a.m. the next morning. The train was officially renamed to Godavari Express as it provided rail connectivity to nine stations in the deserted cities across East and West Godavari districts.

It was regularly hauled by a steam locomotive and had 17 coaches. It reached its highest speed of 50 km/h between Samalkot and Rajahmundry. A slip service was introduced in the train during 1975, and the train began to run up to Kakinada. As a result, five more coaches were added. The train also entered a Rake Sharing Agreement or RSA with the Simhadri Express, which ran between Visakhapatnam and Rajahmundry. However, in 1980, both the slip service and the RSA were canceled as the Simhadri Express was extended up to Bhimavaram and the Kakinada–Secunderabad Goutami Express was introduced.

Background

The train retained its 5 new coaches and ran with a diesel locomotive from terminus to terminus. By 1990, the train had become very popular, and two more coaches were introduced, taking the total to 24. It then became one of the longest trains in India. As the Visakhapatnam–Vijayawada line and the Vijayawada–Kazipet–Hyderabad lines were electrified, the train started running with the WAP-4 electric locomotive. Soon, the Godavari Express became the first train belonging to the South Central Railway to run with 5 air-conditioned coaches. In June 1999, the train met with its first accident, derailing at Ghanpur near Warangal. In the year 2000, the Godavari Express became the first train in the South Central railway to run with an air-conditioned first-class coach and was also the first train in the Zone to have 6 air-conditioned coaches. In 2011, on becoming a Superfast train, it was renumbered to 12727 and was hauled by a WAP-7 between Vijayawada and Hyderabad. Engineers modified the train timings again, and consequently, further reduced the journey time by 15 minutes.

In July and August 2011, passengers of the air-conditioned coaches of the Godavari Express were robbed twice, and a hoax call was made regarding a bomb in the sixth coach of the train. As a result, safety was enhanced, and the train started running with a WAP-7 from end to end. This train then became the first to run with a WAP-7 between Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada.[2] Hundreds of people from Vizianagaram and Srikakulam districts travel to Secunderabad daily through Godavari Express.

LHB coaches

The train was upgraded with modern LHB coaches on 1 June 2020 which was run from both Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam by South Central Railway. Previously It was upgraded as an Utkrist CBC rake train in 2018 which was running till 22 March 2020 after which lockdown started. LHB CC: 2-EOG, 3-GS, 4-3A, 2-2A, 1-1A and 10 SL Currently running as 02727/02728 COVID-19 Special.

Route and stops

Traction

It is hauled by a Lallaguda-based WAP-7 (HOG)-equipped locomotive from end to end.

See also

References
  1. "Train Name Index" (PDF). Portal of Indian Railways. p. 5. Retrieved 31 May 2017.
  2. "Raised railway fares become operational". The Times of India. Retrieved 2 April 2012.
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