Howrah – SMVT Bengaluru Duronto Express


The Howrah – SMVT Bengaluru - Howrah Duronto Express is a Superfast Express train of the Duronto Express category train service of Indian Railways – by South Eastern Railway zone that runs between in Kolkata, West Bengal and SMVT Bengaluru in Bengaluru, Karnataka, both in India. It is the fastest train between Bengaluru in Karnataka and Howrah in West Bengal.
It operates as train number 12245 from Howrah Junction to SMVT Bengaluru Junction and as train number 12246 in the reverse direction, serving the states of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha & West Bengal. It runs with highly refurbished LHB coach from 11 March 2020. It has been provided with pure Duronto-liveried sleeper coaches and also ax coaches along with the pantry service also.
From 10 August 2022, the train terminus in Bengaluru changed from to SMVT Bengaluru.

Coaches

The 12245 / 46 Howrah – SMVT Bengaluru Duronto Express presently has 1 AC First Class, 1 AC 2 tier, 5 AC 3 AC tier, 11 Sleeper class and 2 EOG coaches. In addition, it carries a pantry car.
As is customary with most train services in India, coach composition may be amended at the discretion of Indian Railways depending on demand. Its LHB coaches replaced Hybrid LHB coach on 13 March 2020 from Howrah..

Service

The 12245 Howrah–SMVT Bengaluru Duronto Express covers the distance of in 29 hours 00 mins and in 29 hours 15 mins as 12246 SMVT Bengaluru–Howrah Duronto Express.
As the average speed of the train is above, as per Indian Railways rules, its fare includes a Superfast Express surcharge.

Routeing & Halts

The train 12245 / 46 Howrah–SMVT Bengaluru Duronto Express has stops at,,
and.

Locomotive

It is powered by a -based WAP-7 for its entire journey.

Timings

  • 12245 Howrah–SMVT Bengaluru Duronto Express leaves Howrah Junction at 10:50 AM every Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday and reaches SIR M VISVESVARAYA TERMINAL BENGALURU the next day at 3:50 PM.
  • 12246 SMVT Bengaluru–Howrah Duronto Express leaves SIR M VISVESVARAYA TERMINAL BENGALURU at 11:20 AM every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday & Sunday and reaches Howrah Junction the next day at 4:50 PM.

Speed

Sometimes people become confused because according to Indian Railways Permanent Way Manual on Indian Railways website or Indian Railway Institute of Civil Engineering website, the BG lines have been classified into six groups ‘A’ to ‘E’ on the basis of the future maximum permissible speeds but it may not be same as present speed.
This train runs through Howrah Chennai route up to Gudur and the speed of first section of this route, Howrah – Andul 110 kmph, Simhachalam North - Duvvada - only 2.60 km part 45 kmph /50 kmph
, Duvvada - Vijayawada 130 kmph, Vijayawada - Gudur 130 kmph, Katpadi – Jolarpettai 130 kmph, Jolarpettai to BAIYYAPPANAHALLI JN. , where it leaves route towards KSR Bengaluru to go to SIR M VISVESVARAYA TERMINAL BENGALURU is 110 kmph.

Accidents and incidents

  • On 2 June 2023, 2023 Odisha train collision, three derailed coaches from the Coromandel Express collided into the adjacent track and whip-lashed the tail end of the SMVT Bengaluru–Howrah Express, which was crossing on the down adjacent line at the same time. Also, two unreserved coaches and the brake van of the SMVT Bengaluru–Howrah Express derailed.The accident is considered one of the deadliest rail accidents in Indian Railways' history with a death count of 296 and over 1,200 injuries although there were no casualties but the passengers in derailed coaches of SMVT Bengaluru–Howrah Express had suffered both minor and major injuries.