The Indian Railways was the world’s 3rd largest rail network in FY18 (Source: www.ibef.org). The Indian Railways route length network is spread over 115,000 km, with 12,617 passenger trains and 7,421 freight trains each day from 7,349 stations plying 23 million travellers and 3 million tonnes (MT) of freight daily. India’s railway network is recognised as one of the largest railway systems in the world under the single management of the Ministry of Railways. Here is a list of the 10 longest train journeys in India that can be accomplished in a single train.
1. Vivek Express – Dibrugarh to Kanyakumari
Distance Covered: 4,273 kilometres
With a running time of 82 hours 45 minutes (3.5 days) and about 56 scheduled stops, the Vivek Express covers the longest train route in India. It originates in northern Assam and goes all the way to the southern tip of India to Kanyakumari. Named after Swami Vivekananda, this weekly train was introduced on the occasion of the 150th birth anniversary of the Indian philosopher and seer. It is also the ninth longest train route in the world and passes through eight states of the country. It offers 2AC, 3AC and Sleeper class to passengers, and departs weekly on Monday.
2. Thiruvananthapuram – Silchar Superfast Express
Distance Covered: 3,931 kilometres
The weekly train, Thiruvananthapuram Central – Guwahati Superfast express has been renamed as Thiruvananthapuram – Silchar Superfast Express after the extension of this train up to Silchar (Assam) on November 21, 2017. After this extension, it became the longest-running super-fast train, with 54 halts. The train has a running time of about 76 hours 35 minutes. It originates at the source station in the southern city of Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) on Sunday. This train offers 2AC, 3AC and Sleeper class travel.
3. Himsagar Express – Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra to Kanyakumari
Distance covered: 3,797 kilometres
This weekly train which runs only on Monday, plies between Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu and Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra in Jammu & Kashmir. It travels across 12 of the 29 states in the country and is scheduled to stop at 71 stations. It has a scheduled running time of 73 hours and 5 minutes. This train is a favourite among the Indians down south who want to make the pilgrimage to the shrine at Vaishno Devi. It offers 3AC and Sleeper class to passengers.
4. Navyug Express – Mangalore Central to Jammu Tawi
Distance Covered: 3,690 kilometres
Going from Mangaluru Central in Karnataka to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra in Jammu & Kashmir, the Navyug Express runs for over 4 days and 15 minutes and stops at 59 scheduled stations en route. Navyug, meaning New Era, was introduced to improve Jammu & Kashmir’s connectivity with the rest of the country. This weekly express departs on Monday, and passes through 15 states. It offers 2AC, 3AC and Sleeper class to passengers.
5. Ten Jammu Express – Tirunelveli (Tamil Nadu) to Jammu
Distance Covered: 3,642 km
The Ten Jammu Express runs between Tirunelveli, deep south in Tamil Nadu, and goes right up to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra in Jammu & Kashmir covering a distance of some 3,642 kilometers. Of the 523 stations en route, it stops at 62 stations from Tirunelveli to Jammu Tawi, and has a running time of about 69 hours. The train goes through 11 states and runs twice a week, on Mondays and Fridays. 2AC and Sleeper class are available for travel on this train.
6. Amritsar Kochuveli Express – Amritsar to Kochuveli (Thiruvananthapuram)
Distance Covered: 3,597 kilometres
Amritsar is one of the major pilgrimage destinations in the country, with the famous Golden Temple. The Amritsar Kochuveli Express leaves the north western frontier of the country and traverses seven states to make it to the southern end of the country. With a running time of about 57 hours and 20 minutes, and 25 halts in between, this weekly train covers one of the longest routes in the country. The train starts its journey on Sundays, and passengers can book 2AC, 3 AC and Sleeper class.
7. Humsafar Express- Agartala to Bengaluru Cantonment
Distance Covered: 3,570 Kilometres
Humsafar Express is completely a 3-tier AC sleeper train designed by the Indian Railways. Its service profile includes long-haul routes. It connects Bangalore Cantonment in Karnataka to Agartala, the capital city of Tripura, over a distance of 3,570 kilometers. The train runs for over 64 hours and 15 minutes of time and stops at 28 scheduled stations en route. It departs twice a week on Tuesday and Saturday.
8. New Tinsukia Weekly SF Express – KSR Bengaluru to New Tinsukia Junction
Distance Covered: 3611 kilometres
This train originates at Bengaluru and sets off for New Tinsukia, about 15 kilometres away from the Dibrugarh city in Assam. It has a total running time of 65 hours and 35 minutes. Some of the important cities that this train goes through, include Bengaluru, Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam, Bhubaneswar, Kolkata, Guwahati, and Dimapur, covering about seven states and 39 halts in between. It runs weekly on Tuesdays, and offers 2 AC, 3AC and Sleeper class.
9. Dehradun Kochuveli Superfast Express – Dehradun to Kochuveli (Thiruvananthapuram)
Distance Covered: 3459 kilometres
Halting at 25 stations and covering nine states, the Dehradun Kochuveli express travels from the capital of Uttarakhand right up to the capital of Kerala in the south. It covers a distance of about 3,459 kilometres with a running time of some 61 hours and 15 minutes. It runs weekly on Fridays.
10. Raptisagar Express – Ernakulam (Kochi) to Barauni
Distance Covered: 3437 kilometres
The Raptisagar Express runs between Ernakulam Junction in Kerala to Barauni in the Begusarai district of Bihar. The train’s scheduled running time is 62 hours covering eight states of the country. The train is a weekly express and stops at about 62 stations on its route from the southwestern corner of the country to its eastern destination. This train runs weekly on Mondays, and offers 1 AC, 2AC, 3 AC and Sleeper class.
Note: The above article is based on IRCTC data as on June 1, 2019.
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