Samarsata Express

The 12151 / 12152 Lokmanya Tilak Terminus–Howrah Samarsata Express is a Superfast Express train belonging to Indian Railways – Central Railways zone that runs between Lokmanya Tilak Terminus and Shalimar in India. It is named after Samarasta Festival held in Nagpur.

It operates as train number 12151 from Lokmanya Tilak Terminus to Shalimar and as train number 12152 in the reverse direction, serving the states of Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Jharkhand & West Bengal.

Coaches
The 12151 / 12152 Lokmanya Tilak Terminus–Howrah Samarsata Express presently has 1 AC 1st Class, 2 AC 2 tier, 5 AC 3 tier, 8 Sleeper Class, 3 Second Class seating & 2 SLR (Seating cum Luggage Rake) coaches. In addition, it carries a pantry car.

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

Service
The 12151 / 12152 Samarsata Express covers the distance of 2081 kilometres in 35 hours 50 mins as 12151 Lokmanya Tilak Terminus–Howrah Samarsata Express (58.07 km/h) and 2091 kilometres in 34 hrs 15 mins as 12152 Howrah–Lokmanya Tilak Terminus Samarsata Express (61.05 km/h).

As the average speed of the train is above 55 km/h, as per Indian Railways rules, its fare includes a superfast surcharge.

Routeing
The 12151 / 12152 Samarsata Express runs from Lokmanya Tilak Terminus via Kalyan Junction, Igatpuri, Nashik Road, Bhusaval Junction, Akola Junction, Nagpur Junction, Gondia Junction, Bilaspur Junction, Rourkela Junction, Purulia Junction, Adra Junction, Bankura, Midnapore, Kharagpur Junction to Shalimar.

Traction
Initially a WCAM-3 from the Kalyan shed would haul the train from Lokmanya Tilak Terminus up to Igatpuri handing over to a Santragachi-based WAP-4 which powers the train until Howrah Junction.

With Central Railway progressively moving towards a complete changeover from DC to AC traction, it has recently started being hauled end to end by a Santragachi-based WAP-4 / WAP-7 locomotive.

Timings

 * 12151 Lokmanya Tilak Terminus–Shalimar Samarsata Express leaves Lokmanya Tilak Terminus every Wednesday & Thursday at 20:35 hrs IST and reaches Shalimar at 06:55 hrs IST on the 3rd day.
 * 12152 Shalimar–Lokmanya Tilak Terminus Samarsata Express leaves Shalimar every Friday & Saturday at 19:45 hrs IST and reaches Lokmanya Tilak Terminus at 05:30 hrs IST on the 3rd day.