Mumbai CSMT–Howrah Duronto Express

The 12261 / 12262 Mumbai CSMT–Howrah AC Duronto Express is a Duronto Express train operating on the Mumbai–Howrah route.

Background
Being the non-stop version of the Duronto train, it used to take the fewest intermediate stops for operational and technical purposes such as crew change, locomotive change, food pick-up, and water-filling. Later, most of operational (technical) stops were made commercial stops and stopagges are given in some state capitals and some state capitals are still non - stopping places.

Rake sharing
Rake sharing is done with Pune-Howrah Duronto Express (12222/12221), Howrah-SMVT Bengaluru AC Superfast Express (22863/22864), Santragachi-Chennai Central AC Express (22807/22808), with a total of five Rakes primarily maintained at Santragachi Coaching Depot.

Coach composition
12262 is the reverse composition of the above 12261.

B- Three Tier AC Sleeper/Third AC, A- Two Tier AC Sleeper/Second AC, H- AC First class cabins/First AC, PC-Pantry/Hot buffet car, EOG/GV-Generator van cum Guard van

Locomotive
It previously ran with WAP-4 loco of Howrah but now mostly gets WAP-7 loco of Santragachi. Before the conversion of Mumbai CSMT to Kasara from 1500 V DC to 25 kV AC, it was hauled by WCAM-3 of KYN shed for that section.

Speed
All its coaches are air conditioned LHB coach, capable of reaching 160 kmph. There is some confusing because according to Indian Railways Permanent Way Manual (IRPWM) on the Indian Railways website or Indian Railway Institute of Civil Engineering website, the BG (Broad Gauge) lines have been classified into six groups ‘A’ to ‘E’ on the basis of the future maximum permissible speeds but it may not be same as current speed.

The maximum permissible speed is 130 km/h but it is less in some parts of the journey as these parts are not fit for 130 km/h speed. The maximum permissible speed is 105 km/h between Mumbai CSMT and Kasara where increasing up to 110 kmph in future is planned, 60 km/h between Kasara and Igatpuri, either speed will be increased to 130 km/h from 110 kmph very soon or speed has already been increased recently like which has done for some trains earlier on Igatpuri - Nashik - Bhusaval - Akola - Badnera route. 130 km/h on Badnera - Wardha route, 130 kmph between Wardha and Nagpur , 130 km/h in Nagpur - Durg route, , 110 km/h in Durg - Jharsuguda which is a part of Nagpur  - Jharsuguda route but the speed in this part is under process to be increased to 130 kmph, 130 km/h in Jharsuguda - Tatanagar - Kharagpur - Andul route   , 110 km/h between Andul and Howrah which is a part of Kharagpur - Howrah route.

Time table
From Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus to Howrah - 12261. The train starts from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus every Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday. From Howrah to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus - 12262. The train starts from Howrah Junction every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday.

Technical (operational) halts
12261 takes 1 technical halt at Kasara, Igatpuri. It takes about 7 mins at Kasara for addition of banker engine WAG-7 for the run through the ghats, which is removed at Igatpuri.

12262 has technical halt at Igatpuri if situation is normal and no halt at Kasara.