Manikarnika Express

The Manikarnika Express (Devnagari/Marathi:-मणिकर्णिका एक्सप्रेस; Telugu:-మణికర్ణిక ఎక్స్ ప్రెస్) is a daily train operated by Indian Railways between Secunderabad Railway Station and Patna via Varanasi. Manikarnika Express is also officially known as Patna Express.

• 2791 Secunderabad Railway Station(IR code:SC) -> PATNA (IR code:PNBE)
• 2792 Patna -> Secunderabad Railway Station

Name

The train was initially running between Secunderabad Railway Station and Varanasi and in 2004 as biweekly with numbering 7091 and 7092. the train was extended to Patna during Nitish Kumar's Railway ministership. The train served Andhra Pradesh pillgrims to visit Varanasi and Ayodhya and Sarnath near Varanasi. The train gets its name from one of the famous Ghats of Varanasi, i.e. Manikarnika Ghat.

This train served historically as second alternative to visit North India after 2721UP/2722Dn Dakshin Express and 2723UP/2724DN Andhra Pradesh Express along with other trains like 2590UP/2589DN Gorakhpur Secunderabad Express and Bangalore Express.

Historical significance

The train was introduced long back in 1985 as a biweekly train between Tirupati and Varanasi with a typical numbering of "7489 Tirupati–Varanasi" Express and "7490 Varanasi–Tirupati Express" with slip coach service of two sleeper coaches between Hyderabad and Varanasi with amalgamation/bifurcation at Kazipet Junction with Dakshin Express. Though the train gained importance, due to some political and administration influences, the it got extended to Cochin Harbour Terminus and with the reduction of frequency from biweekly to weekly, via Tirupati through Renigunta Junction.

A demand of new train between Hyderabad and Varanasi has been approved by Indian Railways and a new train between "7091" Secunderabad–Varansi Express and "7092" Varansi–Secunderabad Express was flagged off as biweekly in 1987. Consequently the same coaches and rake composition is used as "7089" Cochin–Varansi Express via Tirupati and "7090" Varanasi–Tirupati Express via Tirupati by cancelling "7489" and "7490" numbering.

Route

• Secunderabad Railway Station
• Kazipet Junction
• Ballarshah
• Nagpur
• Itarsi
• Jabalpur
• Allahabad
• Varanasi, Mughalsarai, Ara, Buxar

Loco link

1. Electric:- WAP4 electric loco of Lallaguda of SCR from Secunderabad to Itarsi or WAM4 of SCR Vijayawada
2. Diesel:- power of WDM2A/WDM3A loco from ITARSI from Itarsi to Mughalsarai
3. Electrical:- WAP4 of Mughalsarai ECR from Mughalsarai to Patna

See also

• Secunderabad Railway Station
• Trains of SCR

References

• South Central Railway official Website