Howrah–Ranchi Shatabdi Express

The 12019 / 12020 Howrah–Ranchi Junction Shatabdi Express is a Shatabdi category train of Indian Railways that connects the capital of West Bengal, Kolkata with that of the capital of Jharkhand, Ranchi. The train belongs to the Howrah Division of Eastern Railways and runs on all the days, except that on Sundays.

History and Current Service
The train was announced in the railway budget for the fiscal year 1995-96 and subsequently commenced its maiden journey from Howrah Junction on 4 July 1995. Designated as the 2019 UP / 2020 DN Howrah – Bokaro Steel City Shatabdi Express, it operated daily except on Sundays. Departing from Howrah at 06:05 hrs, the 2019 Shatabdi Express to Bokaro Steel City made scheduled stops at Durgapur, Asansol, Dhanbad, and Chandrapura before reaching its destination at 11:15 hrs. On its return journey, the 2020 Shatabdi Express departed from Bokaro Steel City at 16:00 hrs and arrived at Howrah at 21:00 hrs. The inaugural train consisted of seven coaches, including five air-conditioned chair car (ACC) coaches and two power cars. Typically, the train was pulled by a Mughalsarai-based WAP-1 or Howrah-based WAP-1 electric locomotive. Notably, on 28 October 2001, the 2019 UP / 2020 DN Howrah – Bokaro Steel City Shatabdi Express had its route extended to Ranchi.

The current 12019 / 12020 Howrah – Ranchi Shatabdi Express departs from Howrah Junction at 06:05 hrs and arrives in Ranchi Junction at 13:15 hrs, covering a distance of 422 km in 7 hrs 10 min, with an average speed of 59 km / hr. On its return trip, the Howrah bound Shatabdi Express departs from Ranchi Junction at 13:45 hrs and arrives in Howrah Junction at 21:30 hrs, covering the same distance in 7 hrs 45 min, with an average speed of 54 km / hr. The maximum permissible speed of the train in both the direction is 130 km / hr.

Coach Composition, Route and Stoppages
The train is equipped with LHB coaches and consists of two AC Executive Class (E1 and E2), seven AC Chair Car (C1 to C7) and two End on Generation / Power Cars. The train takes the Howrah - Delhi route till Dhanbad and then takes the Dhanbad - Chandrapura route to reach Ranchi.

En-route between Howrah and Ranchi, the train stops at the following stations;


 * Durgapur
 * Raniganj Junction
 * Asansol Junction
 * Dhanbad Junction
 * Chandrapura Junction
 * Bokaro Steel City Junction
 * Muri Junction

Loco link
As the route is fully electrified, a Howrah-based WAP-5 / WAP-7 powers the train for its entire journey.

Incidents
Due to ongoing issues related to land subsidence caused by the Jharia coal field fires, Indian Railways took the decision to suspend train operations between Dhanbad and Chandrapura on 13 June 2017. This suspension necessitated the diversion of numerous passenger and freight trains operating in that region, including the Howrah – Ranchi Shatabdi Express. In response, the Ranchi Shatabdi was rerouted via Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Gomoh Junction, where the train would reverse its direction before continuing on to Ranchi and vice versa. Later on, following thorough seismological analysis and safety assessments, train services on this route were eventually restored, including the operation of the Howrah – Ranchi Shatabdi Express as per its original schedule.