Ratnachal Express
![]() Ratnachal Express with a WAP-7 Loco | |||||
Overview | |||||
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Service type | Superfast Train | ||||
First service | 3 October 1994 | ||||
Current operator(s) | South Central Railway | ||||
Ridership | Second sitting - 864, AC chair car - 216 | ||||
Route | |||||
Start | Vijayawada | ||||
Stops | 12 | ||||
End | Visakhapatnam | ||||
Distance travelled | 351 km (218 mi) | ||||
Average journey time | 6 hours (average) | ||||
Service frequency | daily | ||||
Train number(s) | 12717 / 12718 | ||||
On-board services | |||||
Class(es) | AC Chair car, Second sitting, General Unreserved | ||||
Seating arrangements | Yes | ||||
Catering facilities | Pantry Car | ||||
Observation facilities | Standard Indian Railway coaches | ||||
Technical | |||||
Rolling stock | One | ||||
Track gauge | 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) | ||||
Operating speed |
110 km/h (68 mph) maximum 58 km/h (36 mph), including halts | ||||
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![](../I/m/12717_Ratnachal_Express_at_Marripalem_04.jpg)
Ratnachal Express is a superfast Intercity Express Train belonging to Indian Railways that runs between Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada as a daily service. It is maintained by South Central Railway Zone. It operates as train number 12717[1] from Visakhapatnam to Vijayawada and as train number 12718[2] in the reverse direction.
Coaches
The Ratnachal Express has AC Chair car, Second sitting & 6 General unreserved coaches.
Loco | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | SLR | UR | UR | UR | UR | C2 | C1 | D8 | D7 | D6 | D5 | D4 | D3 | D2 | PC | D1 | UR | UR | UR | UR | UR | UR | UR | SLR |
Service
The Ratnachal Express covers the distance of 349 km in 6 hours as 12717 Ratnachal Express averaging 59 km/hr. As it runs above 55 km/hr, it has superfast surcharge. This train halts at Nuzvid, Eluru, Tadepalligudem, Nidadavolu, Rajahmundry, Anaparti, Samalkot, Annavaram, Tuni, Anakapalli, Duvvada. It starts in vijayawada at 06:05 am and reaches vishakapatnam junction at 12:15 pm and in return it starts in vishakapatnam at 12:40 pm and reaches vijayawada at 18:35 pm
Traction
It is hauled by Lallaguda WAP7 from Visakhapatnam to Vijayawada and by Lallaguda WAP4 from Vijayawada to Visakhapatnam [3]