Hirakhand Express is a daily express train which runs between
Jagdalpur
Jagdalpur is a city in Bastar district in the Indian state of Chhattisgarh. Jagdalpur is the administrative headquarters of Bastar District and Bastar Division. It was earlier the capital of the former princely state of Bastar. It is the fo ...
and
Bhubaneswar
Bhubaneswar (; ) is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Odisha. The region, especially the old town, was historically often depicted as ''Ekamra Kshetra'' (area (''kshetra'') adorned with mango trees (''ekamra'')). Bhubaneswar is ...
. It was initially introduced between
Sambalpur and
Balangir. This train has seen several extension on both the ends and now running in a completely different route than its initial station of origin. First it was extended to run between
Rourkela
Rourkela is a planned city located in the northern district Sundargarh of Odisha, India. It is the third-largest Urban Agglomeration in Odisha after Bhubaneswar and Cuttack. It is situated about west of state capital Bhubaneswar and is surro ...
and
Titlagarh, then between
Rourkela
Rourkela is a planned city located in the northern district Sundargarh of Odisha, India. It is the third-largest Urban Agglomeration in Odisha after Bhubaneswar and Cuttack. It is situated about west of state capital Bhubaneswar and is surro ...
and
Rayagada
Rayagada is a municipality in Rayagada district in the Indian state of Odisha. It is the administrative headquarters of Rayagada district.
History
The city of Rayagada was founded by King Vishwanath Dev Gajapati (1527-1531 CE) of the Suryavan ...
, then between
Rourkela
Rourkela is a planned city located in the northern district Sundargarh of Odisha, India. It is the third-largest Urban Agglomeration in Odisha after Bhubaneswar and Cuttack. It is situated about west of state capital Bhubaneswar and is surro ...
and
Bhubaneswar
Bhubaneswar (; ) is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Odisha. The region, especially the old town, was historically often depicted as ''Ekamra Kshetra'' (area (''kshetra'') adorned with mango trees (''ekamra'')). Bhubaneswar is ...
via
Vijayanagaram but after completion of the Koraput-Rayagada link line connecting
Jharsuguda-Vizianagaram line with
Kothavalasa-Kirandul line, it was diverted to run between
Koraput to
Bhubaneswar
Bhubaneswar (; ) is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Odisha. The region, especially the old town, was historically often depicted as ''Ekamra Kshetra'' (area (''kshetra'') adorned with mango trees (''ekamra'')). Bhubaneswar is ...
. In 2010, it was further extended until Jagdalpur. It is operated by the
East Coast Railway Zone
The East Coast Railway (abbreviated ECoR) is one of the 19 railway zones of Indian Railways. It came into existence on 1 April 2003. The headquarters of the zone are at Bhubaneswar, Odisha
History
Consequent upon the parliament's approval, Ea ...
of
Indian Railways
Indian Railways (IR) is a statutory body under the ownership of Ministry of Railways, Government of India that operates India's national railway system. It manages the fourth largest national railway system in the world by size, with a tot ...
.
Etymology
Hirakhand means a piece of diamond in
Sambalpuri language spoken in Western Orissa. It is named after the medieval period kingdom of
Hirakhand otherwise known as
Sambalpur State
Sambalpur State, also known as Hirakhand Kingdom was a sovereign state founded in the 1570 CE. It ruled over a vast kingdom spread across Western Odisha and Eastern Chhattisgarh in central-eastern India prior to the Maratha occupation in 1800 AD ...
spread across present
Western Orissa and parts of
Chhattisgarh
Chhattisgarh (, ) is a landlocked state in Central India. It is the ninth largest state by area, and with a population of roughly 30 million, the seventeenth most populous. It borders seven states – Uttar Pradesh to the north, Madhya Prade ...
state.
Schedule
The 18447
Hirakhand Express leaves every day at 1935 hrs IST and reaches at 1100 hrs IST the next day. The 18448
Hirakhand Express leaves every day at 1630 hrs IST and reaches
at 0825 hrs IST on next day.
Stoppages
The major stoppages are
Jeypore
Jeypore is one of the largest towns and a place of historical significance in Koraput district in the Indian state of Odisha. It was established by Vir Vikram Dev in the mid 17th century. The kingdom was defeated by the East India Company in ...
,
Koraput Junction,
Rayagada
Rayagada is a municipality in Rayagada district in the Indian state of Odisha. It is the administrative headquarters of Rayagada district.
History
The city of Rayagada was founded by King Vishwanath Dev Gajapati (1527-1531 CE) of the Suryavan ...
,
Parvathipuram railway station
Parvatipuram railway station (station code:PVP), located in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, serves Parvathipuram in Parvathipuram district. It is one of the two railway stations in Parvathipuram.
History
Between 1893 and 1896, of the Ea ...
,
Bobbili Junction Vizianagaram Junction
Vizianagaram railway station (station code:VZM) is an Indian railway station located in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh; it serves Vizianagaram city in Vizianagaram district. It is one of the important railway stations on Howrah–Chennai mai ...
,
Srikakulam Road,
Palasa
Palasa is a town in Srikakulam district of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It is a municipality and the mandal headquarters of Palasa mandal. It is located near to the National Highway 16 between Srikakulam and Berhampur. Along with its twi ...
,
Brahmapur
Brahmapur may refer to the following places:
* Brahmapur, Bihar
* Brahmapur, Nepal
* Brahmapur, Odisha
** Brahmapur railway station
* Brahmapur, West Bengal
See also
* Brahampur, Phagwara
Brahampur is a village in Tehsil Phagwara, Kapurtha ...
and
Khurda Road Junction.
Slip route
On 11 August 2012, a "slip route" of Hirakhand Express was Inaugurated as "Junagarh Road-Bhubaneswar Link Express" (Train Number-18437/18438). The source of this train is
Junagarh Road near
Bhawanipatna
Bhawanipatna is a city and headquarters of the Kalahandi district, in the Indian state of Odisha. Bhawanipatna has numerous temples dedicated to different deities of the Hindu pantheon. It is named after the presiding deity, Bhawani-Shankar an ...
. It leaves Bhawanipatna at 1855 hrs IST daily and arrives at 0825 hrs IST daily. The train amalgamates/bifurcates at
Rayagada
Rayagada is a municipality in Rayagada district in the Indian state of Odisha. It is the administrative headquarters of Rayagada district.
History
The city of Rayagada was founded by King Vishwanath Dev Gajapati (1527-1531 CE) of the Suryavan ...
with/from the main Jagdalpur Hirakhand Express. This train halts at Depur PH, G.Ramchandrapur,
Lanjigarh Road Junction, Ambodala,
Muniguda
Muniguda, located 60 km from Rayagada, is a town in the Rayagada district in the Indian state of Odisha
Odisha (English: , ), formerly Orissa ( the official name until 2011), is an Indian state located in Eastern India. It is the ...
,
Bissam Cuttack
Bissam Cuttack is a census town in the Rayagada district, within the state of Odisha, India. It is one of the identified Tourist Centres (scenic spot) of Odisha.
Geography
Bissam Cuttack is located at . It has an average elevation of .
Bissam ...
and
Therubali
Therubali is a village in Rayagada district in the Indian state of Odisha. IMFA's main plant is located at Therubali.
Demographics
In 2011, Therubali had population of 1783 of which male and female were 920 and 863 respectively.
Geography
T ...
before/after
Rayagada
Rayagada is a municipality in Rayagada district in the Indian state of Odisha. It is the administrative headquarters of Rayagada district.
History
The city of Rayagada was founded by King Vishwanath Dev Gajapati (1527-1531 CE) of the Suryavan ...
.
Traction
As the route is electrified, it is hauled by a
VSKP-based
WAP-7 electric locomotive from
Bhubaneswar
Bhubaneswar (; ) is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Odisha. The region, especially the old town, was historically often depicted as ''Ekamra Kshetra'' (area (''kshetra'') adorned with mango trees (''ekamra'')). Bhubaneswar is ...
to
Jagdalpur
Jagdalpur is a city in Bastar district in the Indian state of Chhattisgarh. Jagdalpur is the administrative headquarters of Bastar District and Bastar Division. It was earlier the capital of the former princely state of Bastar. It is the fo ...
and vice versa with LHB Coaches. Earlier It had a slip separated at Rayagada railway station and using a
VSKP based
WDG 3A to
Junagarh Road and
Bhawanipatna
Bhawanipatna is a city and headquarters of the Kalahandi district, in the Indian state of Odisha. Bhawanipatna has numerous temples dedicated to different deities of the Hindu pantheon. It is named after the presiding deity, Bhawani-Shankar an ...
from
Rayagada
Rayagada is a municipality in Rayagada district in the Indian state of Odisha. It is the administrative headquarters of Rayagada district.
History
The city of Rayagada was founded by King Vishwanath Dev Gajapati (1527-1531 CE) of the Suryavan ...
but now it's a complete single running train.
Accidents
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hirakhand Express
Transport in Bhubaneswar
Transport in Jagdalpur
Named passenger trains of India
Rail transport in Odisha
Rail transport in Andhra Pradesh
Rail transport in Chhattisgarh
Express trains in India