Falaknuma Express

The 12703 / 12704 Falaknuma Express is a Superfast Express train belonging to South Central Railway zone that runs between Secunderabad and Howrah, (Kolkata) in India. It is currently being operated with 12703/12704 train numbers on daily basis.

Overview
The train is named after the world-famous Falaknuma Palace in Hyderabad. "Falaknuma" is a Persian word (Persian—فلک ا نمایش), which means "Reflections of Sky/Heaven".

It runs daily and connects important stations such as Guntur Junction, Vijayawada Junction, Eluru, Rajahmundry, Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram, Bhubaneswar and Kharagpur. It is a fast alternative to other trains such as East Coast Express, Guwahati–Secunderabad Express, Shalimar–Secunderabad AC Superfast Express and Shalimar–Secunderabad Superfast Express. Compared to the other trains from Secunderabad to Kolkata, it covers lesser distance as it runs via the Nalgonda, Guntur Junction route. It is the fastest Superfast Express between Secunderabad and Visakhapatnam other than Visakhapatnam–Secunderabad Duronto Express & Visakhapatnam–Secunderabad Garib Rath Express. The train runs jampacked throughout the year because people prefer this train as it has lesser halts than other trains on this route. Besides being Superfast, the train is most neat and clean after trains like Shatabdi Express, Rajdhani Express and Duronto Express and other Superfast trains in India.

The 12703/Howrah–Secunderabad Falaknuma Express has an average speed of 60 km/h and covers 1544 km in 25h 40m. The 12704/Secunderabad–Howrah Falaknuma Express, with the same average speed, covers the same distance in 25h 50m.

Timings
The train departs from Platform #21 of Howrah Junction at 08:35 IST and arrives in Platform #9 of Secunderabad Junction at 10:10 IST, the next day. From Platform #2 of Secunderabad, the train departs at 15:55 IST and arrives in Platform #20 of Howrah at 17:45 IST, the next day.

Route and halts
The train runs from Secunderabad via Nalgonda, Guntur Junction, Vijayawada Junction, Eluru, Tadepalligudem, Rajahmundry, Samalkot Junction, Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram Junction, Srikakulam Road, Palasa, Brahmapur, Khurda Road Junction, Bhubaneswar, Cuttack Junction, Bhadrak, Balasore, Kharagpur Junction to Howrah.

Classes
The train usually consists of a massive load of 23 standard LHB Coaches:


 * 1 AC First
 * 2 AC Two Tier
 * 8 AC Three Tiers Economy
 * 6 Sleeper classes
 * 1 Pantry car
 * 2 General (unreserved)
 * 1 Generator
 * 1 Seating (Disabled/Ladies) cum Luggage Rakes
 * 1 High Capacity Parcel Van(HCPV)

As is customary with most other train services in India, coach composition may be amended at the discretion of Indian Railways, depending on demand.

Coach composition
The train usually consists of a massive load of 23 standard LHB Coaches;


 * 1 AC First
 * 2 AC Two Tier
 * 6 AC Three Tiers Economy
 * 6 Sleeper classes
 * 1 Pantry car
 * 4 General (unreserved)
 * 1 Generator
 * 1 Seating (Disabled/Ladies) cum Luggage Rakes
 * 1 High Capacity Parcel Van (HCPV)

As is customary with most other train services in India, coach composition may be amended at the discretion of Indian Railways, depending on demand.

Loco link

 * A Lallaguda-based WAP-7 electric locomotive pulls it from Secunderabad to Visakhapatnam.
 * The train reverses direction at Vishakhapatnam and gets a Santragachi or Howrah-based WAP-7 electric locomotive for the rest way up to Howrah.

Rake sharing

 * The 12703/12704 Falaknuma Express previously used to share its rakes with 12733/12734 Narayanadri Express.
 * From 1st Jan 2018 till 14th Dec 2023 it shared its rakes withh 17063/17064 Ajanta Express.
 * From 15th Dec 2023 it share its rake with 12709/12710 Simhapuri Express.

Accident and incident
1.On October 16, 2013, the link between the train bogies and the engine broke at Mangalagiri in Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh. 2.on 26 March 2022,3 bogies separated from the train while running. The engine separated from the bogies. 3.on 8 July 2023,While coming to Secunderabad at 10:20 in the morning, a fire broke out in S4 coach. The.