Punjab Mail enters its glorious 114th year of service

The Punjab Mail* one of the earliest trains in Indian Railways* which continues to cater people* will enter its glorious 114th year on 1st June 2025.

It will complete 113 years of service to its esteemed passengers.

The Journey

• The Punjab Mail first steamed out on 1st June 1912 from the Ballard Pier Mole station* which at the time was a hub for GIPR (Great Indian Peninsula Railway) services.

• The train used to run on fixed mail days from Bombay's Ballard Pier Mole station all the way to Peshawar* covering a distance of 2*496 km in approximately 47 hours.

• The train's route ran predominantly over the GIPR track and passed through major cities like Itarsi* Agra* Delhi* and Lahore before terminating at Peshawar Cantonment.

• In 1914* the service shifted to originate and terminate at Bombay VT (now Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus* Mumbai) and became a daily service covering the 1*541 km* Bombay-Delhi GIPR route in 29 hours and 30 minutes.

• By the early 1920s* this transit time was further reduced to 27 hours and 10 minutes.

• However in 1972* the travel time was extended back to 29 hours with added stoppages.

• Today* the Punjab Mail covers a distance of 1*928 km between Mumbai and Firozpur Cantonment in 33 hours and 35 minutes halting at 52 stations enroute.

Coaches & Traction over the years

• The train originally consisted of six coaches: three for passengers and three for postal goods and mail. The three passenger coaches carried approximately 288 passengers.

• In the mid-1930s* IIIrd class coaches were introduced.

• In 1945* air-conditioned coaches were introduced.

• In 1968* the train was dieselized up to Jhansi and later extended from Jhansi to New Delhi by 1976* and finally to Firozpur.

• By the late 1970s/early 1980s* dual-current locomotives (WCAM/1) were used to run the train on electric traction up to Igatpuri with a traction changeover for its further journey.

• The conventional coaches of Punjab Mail were replaced with LHB coaches and the train started running with LHB coaches from 1st December* 2020 onwards.

• The train is now electric-hauled and its restaurant car has been replaced by a pantry car.

• Currently* the train runs with an occupancy of more than 250% and includes:

• 1 AC First Class cum AC-2 Tier* 2 AC-2 Tier* 6 AC-3 Tier* 6 Sleeper Class* 4 General second class coaches* 1 Generator van and 1 SLR (Second Luggage and Guard van)

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