Howrah–SMVT Bengaluru Duronto Express

The 12245 / 12246 Howrah - SMVT Bengaluru - Howrah Duronto Express is Superfast Express train of Duronto Express category train service of Indian Railways – by South Eastern Railway zone that runs between Howrah Junction 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.

Howrah - SMVT Bengaluru Duronto Express
Overview
Service type	Duronto Express
First service	3 January 2010
Current operator(s)	South Eastern Railways
Route
Termini	Howrah Junction (HWH) Sir M. Visvesvaraya Terminal, Bengaluru (SMVB)
Stops	6
Distance travelled	1,937.3 km (1,204 mi)
Average journey time	29 hours 00 minutes as 12245 Howrah–SMVT Bengaluru Duronto Express, 28 hours 45 minutes as 12246 Yeshvantapur–Howrah Duronto Express
Service frequency	5 days a week. 12245 Howrah–SMVT Bengaluru Duronto Express – except Monday & Thursday, 12246 Yeshvantapur–Howrah Duronto Express – except Wednesday & Saturday
Train number(s)	12245 / 12246
On-board services
Class(es)	AC 1st Class, AC 2 tier, AC 3 tier, Sleeper class
Sleeping arrangements	Yes
Catering facilities	Pantry car attached
Observation facilities	LHB coach
Technical
Rolling stock	Standard Indian Railways Duronto LHB coach
Track gauge	1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in)
Operating speed	130 km/h (81 mph) (maximum speed), 69 km/h (43 mph) (average speed), including halts
Route map Legend 12245 ↓ Howrah Junction West Bengal Odisha border Bhubaneswar Odisha Andhra Pradesh border Vizianagaram Junction Vijayawada Junction Renigunta Junction Andhra Pradesh Tamil Nadu border Non-stop pass by in Southern Railway Zone Tamil Nadu Karnataka border 12246 ↑ SMVT Bengaluru

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 Yesvantpur Junction 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 1,946 kilometres (1,209 mi) in 29 hours 00 mins (67.10 km/h) and in 29 hours 15 mins as 12246 SMVT Bengaluru–Howrah Duronto Express (67.69 km/h (42.06 mph)).

12246 Yesvantapur (now SMVT) - Howrah Duronto Express standing at Yesvantapur Railway Station, prior to its departure

As the average speed of the train is above 55 km/h (34 mph), 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 Bhubaneswar, Vizianagaram Junction, Vijayawada Junction and Renigunta Junction.

Station code	Station name	12245[1]		Distance from source in km	Day	12246[2]		Distance from source in km	Day
		Arrival	Departure			Arrival	Departure
HWH	Howrah	Source	10:50	0	1	16:50	Destination	1943	2
BBS	Bhubaneswar	16:20	16:30	436.8	1	09:45	09:55	1502	2
VZM	Vizianagaram Junction	22:05	22:15	820.0	1	04:20	04:30	1121	2
BZA	Vijayawada Junction	04:05	04:15	1215.4	2	22:10	22:20	723	1
RU	Renigunta Junction	9:58	10:00	1592.4	2	16:53	16:55	347	1
SMVB	Sir M. Visvesvaraya Terminal, Bengaluru	15:50	Destination	1937.3	2	Source	11:20	0	1

Locomotive

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

12246 Yesvantapur (now SMVT) - Howrah Duronto Express standing at Bhubneshwar Railway Station

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 (SMVB) the next day at 3:50 PM.
• 12246 SMVT Bengaluru–Howrah Duronto Express leaves SIR M VISVESVARAYA TERMINAL BENGALURU (SMVB) 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 (IRPWM) on Indian Railways website or Indian Railway Institute of Civil Engineering website, the BG (Broad Gauge) 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 (As per Kharagpur Division System Map or South Eastern Railway System Map - both on South Eastern Railway Website, it is 12.274 Kms only), Andul- Kharagpur 130 kmph . As per a post on Facebook page of DCM Kharagpur on 19 Nov, 2022, which is shared by Facebook page of DRM Kharagpur whose link is available on South Eastern Railway Website - Kharagpur to Bhadrak is 130 kmph , Bhadrak - Cuttack - Khurda Road - Palasa - Vizianagaram Jn - Simhachalam North 130 kmph [If any part having more than two lines and this speed is lower other than a) at least one up line and b) at least one down line then it is ignored], Simhachalam North - Duvvada (DVD) (By-Pass) - only 2.60 km part (for this part - as of 31 March 2024) 45 kmph (UP)/50 kmph (DN) , Duvvada (DVD) - Vijayawada 130 kmph , Vijayawada - Gudur 130 kmph , Katpadi – Jolarpettai (part of Arakkonam - Jolarpettai) 130 kmph, Jolarpettai to BAIYYAPPANAHALLI JN. (BYPL), where it leaves route towards KSR Bengaluru to go to SIR M VISVESVARAYA TERMINAL BENGALURU (SMVB) is 110 kmph.