Gowthami Express
 | |||||
| Overview | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service type | Superfast Express | ||||
| Status | Operating | ||||
| Locale | Telangana, Andhra Pradesh | ||||
| Current operator(s) | South Central Railway | ||||
| Route | |||||
| Start | Kakinada | ||||
| Stops | 20 | ||||
| End | Secunderabad Junction | ||||
| Distance travelled | 566 km (352 mi) | ||||
| Average journey time | 10 hours, 15 minutes | ||||
| Service frequency | Daily | ||||
| On-board services | |||||
| Class(es) | Sleeper, Ac 1,2,3 General | ||||
| Seating arrangements | Indian Rail standard | ||||
| Catering facilities | Catering available | ||||
| Observation facilities | Large windows in all carriages, cleanliness | ||||
| Baggage facilities | Below the seats | ||||
| Technical | |||||
| Rolling stock | Two | ||||
| Track gauge | Broad (1,676 mm) | ||||
| Electrification | 5,350 hp (3,989 kW) | ||||
| Operating speed | 55 km/h (Average) | ||||
| |||||
Gowthami Express is a train running from the port city of Kakinada to the capital city Secunderabad junction.[1] It is named after the River Gowthami, a tributary to the River Godavari. It runs with train numbers as 12737/12738.
History
Gowthami superfast Express is considered to be one of the most prestigious trains of South Central Railway(SCR) which connects the Telangana state capital city of Hyderabad with the port city Kakinada. It was upgraded to superfast category in the year July 2007 and is operated with 12737 / 12738 as train numbers and used to be 7047 / 7048 in prior to upgradation . It is one of the longest trains running with 24 coaches and also runs with full capacity throughout the year. It has 4 AC, 15 Sleeper, 3 second class general compartments and 2 Luggage cum brake vans. The Goutami superfast express is considered to be one of the best ways to commute to the state capital, In united Andhra Pradesh, now the capital of Telangana Hyderabad from Delta districts of Andhra Pradesh. It was introduced on 3/10/1987 and is considered as sister train to Godavari express which runs between Visakhapatnam and Hyderabad. It is also known for better maintenance of coaches. It is being operated by WAP7 since Feb'10. and again started operating the train with WAP4 since May, 2010 from capital of Andhra Pradesh.
Loco Links
The train is regularly hauled by a single Erode based WAP4 locomotive from COA to BZA with loco change at Vijayawada. Sometimes, due to non-availability of the WAP7, it is hauled by a Lallaguda based WAP4 from BZA to SC.
Incidents
In July, 2008 Gowthami Express supposedly got short-circuited and fire broke out during the midnight. Those wakened by the sounds escaped by pulling the emergency chain to slow down the train and 40 people lost their lives in this incident. It occurred while the train crossed Kesamudram station in Warangal district of Andhra Pradesh at around 1:07 am.