Pragati Express
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| Overview | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service type | Superfast Express | ||||
| Locale | Maharashtra | ||||
| First service | 27 December 1991 | ||||
| Current operator(s) | Central Railways | ||||
| Route | |||||
| Termini | Mumbai CSMT Pune | ||||
| Stops | 6 as 12125 Pragati Express 5 as 12126 Pragati Express (+2 technical) | ||||
| Distance travelled | 187 km (116 mi) | ||||
| Average journey time | 3 hours 25 minutes | ||||
| Service frequency | daily | ||||
| Train number(s) | 12125 / 12126 | ||||
| On-board services | |||||
| Class(es) | AC Chair Car, Second Class sitting | ||||
| Seating arrangements | Yes | ||||
| Sleeping arrangements | No | ||||
| Auto-rack arrangements | No | ||||
| Catering facilities | No Pantry Car | ||||
| Observation facilities | No Rake Shareing, First dedicated Mumbai - Pune Intercity to operate via Panvel. | ||||
| Entertainment facilities | None | ||||
| Other facilities | Announcements (Welcome address, Train information, Arriving station, Next station) | ||||
| Technical | |||||
| Rolling stock | Kalyan WCAM 3 or WCAM 2/2P locomotive, ICF Rake (Utkrisht) | ||||
| Track gauge | 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) | ||||
| Operating speed | 110 km/h (68 mph) maximum 54 km/h (34 mph), including halts | ||||
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The Pragati Superfast Express is a daily intercity express train plying between Pune and Mumbai via Panvel. It is operated by the Central Railways, a zonal railway under the larger Indian Railways. Currently, it plies the distance of 187 km in 3 hours and 25 minutes.
Coaches
The Pragati Express currently has 2 AC Chair Car, 5 General Second Class, 5 General Second Class coaches reserved for Pass Holders, 1 Ladies coach and 2 Sleeper coaches. As is customary with Indian Railways, coaches are added/removed as per the demand.
Starting November 2018, the Pragati Express has received major upgrades in terms of Uttakristha interiors and a new color scheme. Soon it will be attached LHB coaches.
Currently running with upgraded Utakristha coaches.
Service
It was inaugurated on 27 December 1991 as an alternative to the most popular train on this sector the Deccan Queen. It is one of the six point-to-point express trains meant for intercity travel between Mumbai and Pune that carry thousands of regular commuters. The other five being the Sinhagad Express, Deccan Queen, Deccan Express, Indrayani Express and the Intercity Express. Although all trains have the same livery, the Pragati Express takes a different route. It takes the single line electrified route between Karjat and Panvel and continues towards Diva from where it continues the rest of journey towards Mumbai CST. Thus it completely bypasses the Karjat - Kalyan section of the Central Line.
Timing
The Pune Mumbai Pragati Express Express is the 3rd of 6 dedicated trains to leave Pune Junction for Mumbai CST & is the 2nd last train to return.
12126 Pune Mumbai Pragati Express leaves Pune Junction every day at 07:50 hrs IST and reaches Mumbai CST at 11:15 hrs IST.
On return, the 12125 Mumbai Pune Pragati Express leaves Mumbai CST every day at 16:25 hrs IST and reaches Pune Junction at 19:50 hrs IST.
Traction
When the train was introduced, it was hauled by WCM 2/3/5 DC locomotives as the route between Mumbai and Pune was under 1500 V DC. Post 2014, after conversion of DC to AC on Central Line, it has been hauled occasionally by Bhusaval based WAP 4/WAM-4 or Ajni based WAP 7.
At Karjat, it gets two or three WAG-7 or WCAM 3 bankers of Kalyan shed to push the train on the ghat section between Karjat railway station and Lonavala railway station, where the gradient is of 1 in 40.
Gallery
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Old Pragati Express with beautiful coach -
Pragati Express - with the new Utakristha coaches -
Pragati Express - 2nd Class seating - Utakristha coach
Sister trains
- Dedicated Mumbai-Pune Intercity trains:
| Via Kalyan | Defunct |
|---|---|
| Deccan Express | Poona Mail |
| Deccan Queen Express | |
| Indrayani Express | Mumbai-Pune Shatabdi Express |
| Mumbai Pune Intercity Express | |
| Sinhagad Express |