Black Diamond Express
| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Service type | Superfast |
| Locale | West Bengal & Jharkhand |
| First service | 1964 |
| Current operator(s) | East Central Railway |
| Route | |
| Termini | Howrah (HWH) Dhanbad (DHN) |
| Stops | 14 |
| Distance travelled | 271 km (168 mi) |
| Average journey time | 5 hours |
| Service frequency | Daily |
| Train number(s) | 22387 / 22388 |
| On-board services | |
| Class(es) | General Unreserved, Second Seating, AC Chair Car |
| Seating arrangements | Yes |
| Sleeping arrangements | No |
| Auto-rack arrangements | Overhead racks |
| Catering facilities | E-catering |
| Observation facilities | Large windows |
| Baggage facilities | Available |
| Other facilities | Below the seats |
| Technical | |
| Rolling stock | LHB coach |
| Track gauge | 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) |
| Operating speed | 54 km/h (34 mph) average including halts. |
The 22387 / 22388 Black Diamond Express is a daily superfast passenger train that connects the city of Dhanbad in Jharkhand to the capital of West Bengal, Kolkata. It acts as a sister train / twin train to the Howrah – Dhanbad Coalfield Express.[1] Initially, the train was inaugurated as 13317 / 13318 Howrah – Dhanbad Black Diamond Express.[2] However, with the upgrading of this train to the superfast category, the train numbering was changed to 22387 / 22388.[3]
History
[edit]Due to the proximity of Dhanbad, the coal capital of India, to key coal and industrial regions in West Bengal (Asansol, Raniganj, Andal, Waria, Durgapur) and its closeness to Kolkata, a large number of passengers travel this route daily. However, with population growth and industrial expansion, the sole superfast connection, the Howrah–Dhanbad Coalfield Express, couldn't meet rising demand. As a result, a new train was truly needed.
In response, in 1964, the Howrah–Asansol Fast Passenger (inaugurated around 1954) was extended to Dhanbad and renamed the Dhanbad Express, later becoming the Black Diamond Express around 1970.
The Black Diamond Express serves as a counterpart to the Coalfield Express but is operated by East Central Railway, while the Coalfield Express is managed by Eastern Railway. The Black Diamond Express runs on the Howrah – Barddhaman Main line, unlike the Coalfield Express, which uses the Howrah – Barddhaman Chord line. Additionally, the Black Diamond Express operates in the morning, complementing the evening Coalfield Express.
Service
[edit]The 22387 (HWH – DHN) departs Howrah at 06:15 and arrives in Dhanbad at 11:18, while the 22388 (DHN – HWH) departs Dhanbad at 16:20 and arrives in Howrah at 21:20, thereby traversing a distance of 271 km in around 5 hours, with an average speed of 54 km/h (34 mph) and maximum permissible speed of 110 km/h (68 mph).
Enroute, the train stops at:
- Seoraphuli Jn
- Bandel Jn
- Barddhaman Jn
- Mankar
- Panagarh
- Durgapur
- Waria
- Andal Jn
- Raniganj
- Asansol Jn
- Sitarampur Jn
- Kulti
- Barakar
- Kumardubi
Coach Composition
[edit]The train is equipped with 22 LHB coaches. The coach composition includes,
- Two air-conditioned chair car coaches (C1 – C2)
- Four non-air-conditioned chair car coaches (D1 – D4)
- Thirteen unreserved general coaches (GS / UR)
- One unreserved ladies coach (LDS / UR)
- Two seating cum luggage cars (SLR)
Traction
[edit]The train is hauled by a Howrah Loco Shed-based WAP-4 electric locomotive from end to end.
References
[edit]- ^ Chakraborty, Anubad. "22387/Black Diamond Express - Howrah to Dhanbad ECR/East Central Zone - Railway Enquiry". indiarailinfo.com. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
- ^ Chakraborty, Anubad. "22387/Black Diamond Express - Howrah to Dhanbad ECR/East Central Zone - Railway Enquiry". indiarailinfo.com. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
- ^ Vishwanath. "13317/Black Diamond Express - Howrah to Dhanbad ECR/East Central Zone - Railway Enquiry". indiarailinfo.com. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
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