Pratap Express

{{Infobox rail service

| name = Pratap Superfast Express

| image =

| caption =

| type = Superfast Express

| first = {{start date and age|df=yes|2010|01|07}}

| last =

| operator = North Western Railway

| ridership =

| start = {{stnlnk|Bikaner}} (BKN)

| stops = 19

| end = {{stnlnk|Kolkata}} (KOAA)

| distance = {{convert|1887|km|0|abbr=on}}

| journeytime = 30 hours 35 mins

| frequency = Weekly

| class = AC 2 Tier, AC 3 Tier, Sleeper Class, General Unreserved

| seating = Yes

| sleeping = Yes

| autorack =

| catering = On-board catering,
E-catering

| observation = Large windows

| entertainment =

| baggage = Available

| otherfacilities = Below the seats

| stock = LHB coach

| gauge = {{track gauge|1676mm|al=on|allk=on}}

| electrification =

| trainnumber = 12495 / 12496

| speed = {{convert|62|km/h|0|abbr=on}} average including halts.

| map =

| map_state =

}}

The 12495 / 12496 Pratap Superfast Express is a superfast express train belonging to Indian Railways – North Western Railway zone that runs between {{stnlnk|Bikaner Junction}} and Kolkata Chitpur in India. It often is delayed nearly by four hours late. The train received its LHB coach.

It operates as train number 12495 from Bikaner Junction to Kolkata and as train number 12496 in the reverse direction, serving the states of Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal.

Coaches

The 12495/12496 Pratap Express has one AC 2 tier, five AC 3 tier, eight Sleeper class, six Unreserved/General and two EOG coaches. It does not carry a pantry car [https://web.archive.org/web/20141018051936/http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Search&Key=TOIKM/2009/12/29/4/Ad00410.xml&CollName=TOI_KoLKATA_ARCHIVE_2009&DOCID=125501&Keyword=(%3Cmany%3E%3Cstem%3Ebikaner%3Cand%3E%3Cmany%3E%3Cstem%3Ekolkata%3Cand%3E%3Cmany%3E%3Cstem%3Eexpress)&skin=pastissues2&AppName=2&ViewMode=GIF].

Service

The 12495 Pratap Express covers the distance of {{convert|1885|km|0|abbr=on}} in 31 hours 55 mins (59.06 km/h) and in 31 hours 05 mins as 12496 Pratap Express (60.64 km/h).

As the average speed of the train is above {{convert|55|km/h|0|abbr=on}}, as per Indian Railways rules, its fare includes a Superfast surcharge.

Time table

style="background:gold;"\| Station Code	style="background:gold;"\| Station Name	style="background:gold;"\| Arrival	style="background:gold;"\| Departure
class="wikitable
BKN	Bikaner Junction	---	05:40
NOK	Nokha	06:25	06:27
NGO	Nagaur	07:02	07:07
DNA	Degana Junction	08:48	08:51
MKN	Makrana Junction	09:20	09:23
JP	Jaipur Junction	11:25	11:40
BKI	Bandikui Junction	12:58	13:00
BTE	Bharatpur Junction	14:03	14:05
AH	Achhnera Junction	14:28	14:30
AF	Agra Fort	15:05	15:30
TDL	Tundla Junction	16:45	16:50
CNB	Kanpur Central	19:30	19:35
PRYJ	Prayagraj Junction	22:05	22:10
DDU	Pt DD Upadhyaya Junction	02:28	02:38
GAYA	Gaya Junction	04:45	04:50
KQR	Koderma Junction	06:26	06:28
DHN	Dhanbad Junction	08:40	08:45
ASN	Asansol Junction	09:56	10:01
DGR	Durgapur	10:29	10:31
BWN	Barddhaman Junction	11:22	11:24
KOAA	Kolkata	13:05	---

Operation

12495 Pratap Express runs from Bikaner Junction every Thursday reaching Kolkata on Friday [http://www.holidayiq.com/railways/bkn-koaa-sup-ex-12495-train.html].
12496 Pratap Express runs from Kolkata every Friday reaching Bikaner Junction on Sunday.

Traction

Both trains are hauled by a Bhagat Ki Kothi Loco Shed or Ghaziabad Loco Shed-based WAP-7 electric locomotive from Bikaner to Kolkata and vice versa.

References

[https://web.archive.org/web/20141018051936/http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Search&Key=TOIKM/2009/12/29/4/Ad00410.xml&CollName=TOI_KoLKATA_ARCHIVE_2009&DOCID=125501&Keyword=(%3Cmany%3E%3Cstem%3Ebikaner%3Cand%3E%3Cmany%3E%3Cstem%3Ekolkata%3Cand%3E%3Cmany%3E%3Cstem%3Eexpress)&skin=pastissues2&AppName=2&ViewMode=GIF ]