Saraighat Express

The 12345 / 12346 Saraighat SF Express^[1] is a daily Superfast Express train which runs between Howrah Junction, Kolkata (West Bengal) and Guwahati (Assam), via Barddhaman, Malda Town near Malda, New Jalpaiguri Junction near Siliguri & New Bongaigaon Junctionwith stops at Barddhaman, Bolpur(Shantiniketan), Sainthia, Rampurhat, Pakur, New Farakka Junction, Malda Town, Kishanganj, New Jalpaiguri Junction, Dhupguri, Falakata, New Cooch Behar, New Alipurduar, New Bongaigaon Junction & Kamakhya Junction(now Shri Mata Kamakhya Dham Junction).^[2] Saraighat SF Express is one of the fastest trains that connects Kolkata to the North East, and gets high priority end to end. The train is named after Battle of Saraighat between Ahom & Mughal & after the Saraighat Bridge. Funnily & Shockingly from 2001 onwards Saraighat Express doesn't run via Saraighat Bridge but via Naranarayan Setu using New Bongaigaon Junction - Goalpara Town - Kamakhya Junction(now Shri Mata Kamakhya Dham Junction) line.

Saraighat SF Express

Howrah bound 12346 Saraighat Superfast Express with HWH WAP-7 in Amrit Bharat Express livery standing beside a SGUJ WDP-4 at New Bongaigaon Junction.
Overview
Service type	Superfast Express
Locale	West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar, West Bengal & Assam
First service	6 July 1995; 30 years ago (1995-07-06)
Current operator(s)	Eastern Railway
Route
Termini	Howrah (HWH) 16.05(D)/05.30(A) Guwahati (GHY) 09.50(A)/12.15(D)
Stops	14
Distance travelled	1,000.3 km (622 mi)
Average journey time	17 hours 30 mins
Service frequency	Daily
Train number(s)	12345 / 12346
On-board services
Class(es)	AC First, AC 2 tier, AC 3 tier, Sleeper class, General Unreserved
Seating arrangements	Yes
Sleeping arrangements	Yes
Catering facilities	Pantry car, On-board catering, E-catering
Baggage facilities	Available
Technical
Rolling stock	LHB coach
Track gauge	1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in)
Operating speed	57.16 km/h (36 mph) average including halts

History

The service was started in 6 July 1995; 30 years ago (1995-07-06) as 3045/3046 Saraighat Express with stops at Barddhaman, Bolpur(Shantiniketan), Sainthia, Rampurhat, Pakur, New Farakka Junction, Malda Town, Kishanganj, New Jalpaiguri Junction,New Cooch Behar, New Alipurduar, New Bongaigaon Junction & Rangiya Junction until 1998. From 2001, it was permanently diverted to run via Naranarayan Setu using New Bongaigaon Junction - Goalpara Town - Kamakhya Junction(now Shri Mata Kamakhya Dham Junction) line. Saraighat Express doesn't run via Saraighat Bridge, on which is it named. It was covering 975.4 km (606 mi) in 18 hrs running at 54.16 km/h (34 mph) speed. ^[3]. In 2001 after permanent diversion via Naranarayan Setu using New Bongaigaon Junction - Goalpara Town - Kamakhya Junction(now Shri Mata Kamakhya Dham Junction) line, number was changed to 2345/2346. Timings were preponed by 5 hrs 30 mins making it 15.40 pm to 09.40 am train in both ways, covering 1,000.3 km (622 mi) in 18 hrs running at 55.57 km/h (35 mph) speed.^[4]. Before electrification in 2001-2011 period, the WDM-3 diesel locomotive from Howrah shed used to haul the train till Malda Town & then WDM-3 diesel locomotive from Malda Town shed used to haul the train till Guwahati. From 2011-2018, the train was hauled fully end to end by WDP-4 diesel locomotive of Siliguri Junction railway station shed. Full electrification reached Guwahati on 2018 & from then on WAP-7 electric locomotive from Howrah shed & recently WAP-7 electric locomotive from Siliguri Junction railway station shed hauls this train end to end. It is the 2nd train to get Electric Locomotive end to end from Guwahati after the North East Express.

Coach composition

This train has 22 LHB coaches.^[5]

Howrah to Guwahati

Loco	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22
	SLR	GEN	GEN	GEN	S1	S2	S3	S4	S5	S6	S7	S8	PC	HA1	A1	M1	B1	B2	B3	B4	B5	EOG

Guwahati to Howrah

Loco	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22
	EOG	B5	B4	B3	B2	B1	M1	A1	HA1	PC	S8	S7	S6	S5	S4	S3	S2	S1	GEN	GEN	GEN	SLR

Please note that one of the rakes of this train has the exact opposite coach composition of what is mentioned.

Traction

The train is hauled by a WAP-7 locomotive from Howrah Junction shed & recently is also hauled by WAP-7 locomotive from Siliguri Junction railway station shed