Howrah–Rourkela Vande Bharat Express
| Howrah Junction – Rourkela Junction Vande Bharat Express | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overview | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Service type | Vande Bharat Express | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Locale | West Bengal, Jharkhand and Odisha | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| First service | 15 September 2024 (Inaugural) 18 September 2024 (Commercial) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Current operator | South Eastern Railways (SER) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Route | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Termini | Howrah Junction (HWH) Rourkela Junction (ROU) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stops | 03 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Distance travelled | 412 km (256 mi) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Average journey time | 05 hrs 50 mins | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Service frequency | Six days a week [a] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Train number | 20871 / 20872 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Line used | Howrah–Nagpur–Mumbai line (till Rourkela Junction) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| On-board services | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Classes | AC Chair Car, AC Executive Chair Car | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Seating arrangements |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sleeping arrangements | No | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Catering facilities | On board Catering | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Observation facilities | Large windows in all coaches | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Entertainment facilities |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Baggage facilities | Overhead racks | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other facilities | Kavach | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Technical | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rolling stock | Mini Vande Bharat 2.0 (Last service: Oct 18 2025) Vande Bharat 2.0 (First service: Oct 19 2025) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Track gauge | Indian gauge 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) broad gauge | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Electrification | 25 kV 50 Hz AC Overhead line | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operating speed | 71 km/h (44 mph) (Avg.) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Average length | 384 metres (1,260 ft) (16 coaches) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Track owner | Indian Railways | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rake maintenance | Santragachi Jn (SRC) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The 20871/20872 Howrah - Rourkela Vande Bharat Express is India's 58th Vande Bharat Express train, connecting the metropolitan and twin city of Kolkata, Howrah in West Bengal with the smart city of Rourkela in Odisha.
This express train was inaugurated on September 15, 2024, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi via video conferencing from the capital city of Ranchi instead of physically inaugurating at Tatanagar Junction in Jharkhand due to continuous rains in Jamshedpur.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7]
Overview
This train is currently operated by Indian Railways, connecting Howrah Jn, Kharagpur Jn, Tatanagar Jn, Chakradharpur and Rourkela Jn. It currently operates with train numbers 20871/20872 on 6 days a week basis.[8]
Rakes
It is the fifty-fifth 2nd Generation and thirty-ninth Mini Vande Bharat 2.0 Express train which was designed and manufactured by the Integral Coach Factory at Perambur, Chennai under the Make in India Initiative.[9]
Coach Augmentation
As per latest updates, this express train was augmented with 08 additional AC coaches, thereby running with Vande Bharat 2.0 trainset W.E.F. 19 October 2025 in order to enhance passenger capacity and make travel convenient on this route. [10]
Service
The 20871/20872 Howrah Jn - Rourkela Jn Vande Bharat Express operates six days a week except Tuesdays, covering a distance of 412 km (256 mi) in a travel time of 5 hours with an average speed of 71 km/h (44 mph). The Maximum Permissible Speed is 130 km/h (81 mph).
See also
- Vande Bharat Express
- Tejas Express
- Gatiman Express
- Howrah Junction railway station
- Rourkela Junction railway station
Notes
- ^ Except Tuesdays
References
- ^ Athrady, Ajith. "PM Modi flags off six Vande Bharat Express trains in poll-bound Jharkhand". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
- ^ "PM's Jamshedpur Visit Canceled Due to Rain, Will Inaugurate Online from Ranchi". Live Hindustan (in Hindi). 15 September 2024. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
- ^ "PM Modi flags off six Vande Bharat trains at Jharkhand's Tatanagar". The Economic Times. 15 September 2024. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
- ^ DHNS. "PM Modi to flag off six Vande Bharat Express trains in poll-bound Jharkhand". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
- ^ "PM Modi to flag off six new Vande Bharat Express trains during Jharkhand visit today – Full list of routes here". Financialexpress. 15 September 2024. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
- ^ "PM Modi to inaugurate 11 Vande Bharat Express Trains from Tatanagar". The Avenue Mail. 11 September 2024. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
- ^ "राउरकेला-हावड़ा वंदे भारत ट्रेन का होगा ट्रायल". Live Hindustan (in Hindi). 12 September 2024. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
- ^ Aniket. "20871/Howrah - Rourkela Vande Bharat Express - Howrah to Rourkela SER/South Eastern Zone - Railway Enquiry". indiarailinfo.com. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
- ^ "Train 18, India's Fastest, Named "Vande Bharat Express": Piyush Goyal". NDTV.com. Retrieved 19 April 2023.
- ^ Shah, Priyanshi (20 October 2025). "58th Vande Bharat Express Gets Double The Coaches This Diwali; Check Route, Stops And Fare". Curly Tales. Retrieved 21 October 2025.