Rajkot–Secunderabad Express

The 22717 / 22718 Rajkot - Secunderabad Express is the superfast trains operated by the South Central Railway zone of the Indian Railways between Rajkot Junction in Gujarat and Secunderabad Junction in Hyderabad, Telangana.

History
The Rajkot–Secunderabad Express is a popular train in the South Central Railway zone of the Indian Railways. It is only one of three trains connecting Hyderabad with Rajkot in the state of Gujarat, the other two being the Bhavnagar Terminus–Kakinada Port Express and the Rameswaram–Okha Express. The train was introduced in the year 1985 to run from Ahmedabad to Hyderabad as a weekly super-fast train. But, due to the increasing rush of passengers the train was made bi-weekly in June 2001 and tri-weekly in April 2003. The train was later extended to Rajkot and was degraded to Express status as the number of stops were increased.

Over the years, some class train coaches have been augmented or reduced, train numbers were changed from 17017 / 17018 to 22717 / 22718 and it was converted from an express to a superfast train in late 2021.

Coach composition
The train has standard ICF rakes with max speed of 110 kmph. The train consists of 21/22 coaches:


 * 2 AC II Tier
 * 5 AC III Tier
 * 10 Sleeper coaches
 * 2/3 General Unreserved
 * 2 Seating cum Luggage Rake

Service
The 22717/Rajkot–Secunderabad Express has an average speed of 56 km/h and covers 1472 km in 26 hrs 10 mins.

The 22718/Secunderabad–Rajkot Express has an average speed of 55 km/h and covers 1472 km in 26 hrs 50 mins.

Route and halts
The 22717/18 Rajkot–Secunderabad Express runs from Rajkot Junction via Surendranagar Junction, Ahmedabad Junction, Vadodara Junction, Surat, Vasai Road, Kalyan Junction, Pune Junction, Solapur, Kalaburagi Junction, Wadi Junction to Secunderabad Junction.

Traction
Both trains are hauled by a Vijayawada Loco Shed based WAP-4 or Lallaguda Loco Shed based WAP-7 electric locomotive from Rajkot to Secunderabad and vice-versa.

Rake sharing
The train shares its rake with
 * 17037/17038 Secunderabad–Hisar Express
 * 17001/17002 Sainagar Shirdi–Secunderabad Express.