Gour Express is an express train of the Indian Railways connecting Kolkata with the district of Malda. The train covers a distance of 349.6 km (217 mi) up to Malda with the numbers 13153/54. Previously there was an additional link service of 109 km (68 mi) (from Malda to Balurghat) which used to run with the 55421/22 Malda Town–Balurghat passenger.[1]

Gour Express
Gour Express over a railway bridge
Overview
Service typeExpress
LocaleWest Bengal, Jharkhand
First service20 April 1980; 44 years ago (20 April 1980)
Current operator(s)Eastern Railways
Route
TerminiSealdah (SDAH)
Malda (MLDT)
Stops12 up to Malda Town
Distance travelled349.6 km (217 mi)
Average journey time7 hours 45 minutes in up direction, 7 hours 50 minutes in down direction.
Service frequencyDaily
Train number(s)13153/13154 (to Malda Town)
On-board services
Class(es)First AC, Second AC, Third AC, Sleeper, Unreserved
Seating arrangementsAvailable
Sleeping arrangementsAvailable
Auto-rack arrangementsAvailable
Observation facilitiesLarge windows
Baggage facilitiesAvailable
Technical
Rolling stockLHB coach
Track gauge1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in)
Operating speed44 km/h (27 mph) average with halts

Timeline

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The Gour Express commenced operations as a triweekly express service between Sealdah and Malda from 20 April 1980. The train proved successful and the then railway minister A. B. A. Ghani Khan Choudhury played a key role in increasing the frequency of the service. On 2 October 1982, he flagged off the first run of the train as a daily service.

Through coaches to Balurghat were added to the train after the completion of the broad-gauge rail link to Balurghat in 2004. Now electrification work is under construction to pull the whole train to balurghat with electric loco..[1]

Important stoppages

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Source:[1]

Timings

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  1. 13153 leaves Sealdah around 22:15 everyday and reaches Malda Town at 5:55 next day.
  2. 13154 departs Malda Town around 21:35 everyday and reaches Sealdah at 5:00 next day.

Coach composition

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The train consists of 21 passenger coaches. The train runs with the following coach composition -

  • 1 Composite 1st A/C
  • 3 A/C 2-tier coaches
  • 2 A/C 3-tier coaches
  • 9 Non-A/C sleeper coaches
  • 4 Unreserved sleeper coaches (UR)
  • 1 Luggage-cum-Guard coaches with unreserved seating (SLR)
  • 1 End on Generation (EOG)

Of these, one Luggage-cum-Guard, one unreserved sleeper, three reserved non-A/C sleeper, one A/C 3-tier and one A/C 2-tier coach were used for the through service between Sealdah and Balurghat (now closed).[1]

Traction

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As the route from Sealdah to Malda is fully electrified, it is hauled by a Howrah/Sealdah-based WAP-4/WAP-7 throughout its entire journey.

See also

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References

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