Pragati Express

Pragati Superfast Express
Overview
Service type	Intercity Express
Locale	Maharashtra
First service	27 December 1991
Current operator(s)	Central Railways
Route
Termini	Mumbai CSMT; Pune Junction
Stops	6 as 12125 Pragati Express; 5 as 12126 Pragati Express (+2 technical)
Distance travelled	187 km (116 mi)
Average journey time	3 hours 25 minutes
Service frequency	daily
Train number(s)	12125 / 12126
On-board services
Class(es)	AC Chair Car, Second Class sitting
Seating arrangements	Yes
Sleeping arrangements	No
Auto-rack arrangements	No
Catering facilities	No pantry car
Observation facilities	No rake sharing, First dedicated Mumbai–Pune Intercity to operate via Panvel.
Entertainment facilities	None
Technical
Rolling stock	Kalyan WCAM-3 or WCAM-2/2P locomotive, ICF rake (Utkrisht)
Track gauge	1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in)
Operating speed	110 km/h (68 mph) maximum ; 54 km/h (34 mph), including halts
Route map
Route map

The Pragati Superfast Express is a daily Intercity Express train plying between Pune and Mumbai via Panvel. It is operated by the Central Railways, a zonal railway under the larger Indian Railways. Currently, it plies the distance of 187 km in 3 hours and 25 minutes.

Coaches

The Pragati Express currently has 2 AC Chair Car, 5 General Second Class, 5 General Second Class coaches reserved for Pass Holders, 1 Ladies coach and 2 Sleeper coaches. As is customary with Indian Railways, coaches are added/removed as per the demand.

Starting November 2018, the Pragati Express has received major upgrades in terms of Uttakristha interiors and a new color scheme. Soon it will be attached LHB coach.

Currently running with upgraded Utkrisht coaches.

Service

It was inaugurated on 27 December 1991 as an alternative to the most popular train on this sector the Deccan Queen. It is one of the six point-to-point express trains meant for intercity travel between Mumbai and Pune that carry thousands of regular commuters. The other five being the Sinhagad Express, Deccan Queen, Deccan Express, Indrayani Express and the Intercity Express. Although all trains have the same livery, the Pragati Express takes a different route. It takes the single line electrified route between Karjat and Panvel and continues towards Diva Junction from where it continues the rest of journey towards Mumbai CSMT. Thus it completely bypasses the Karjat–Kalyan Junction–Diva Junction section of the Central Line.

Timing

The Pune–Mumbai Pragati Express Express is the 3rd of 6 dedicated trains to leave Pune Junction for Mumbai CST & is the 2nd-last train to return.

12126 Pune–Mumbai Pragati Express leaves Pune Junction every day at 07:50 hrs IST and reaches Mumbai CST at 11:15 hrs IST.

On return, the 12125 Mumbai–Pune Pragati Express leaves Mumbai CST every day at 16:25 hrs IST and reaches Pune Junction at 19:50 hrs IST.

Traction

When the train was introduced, it was hauled by WCM 2/3/5 DC locomotives as the route between Mumbai and Pune was under 1500 V DC. Post 2014, after conversion of DC to AC on Central Line, it has been hauled occasionally by Bhusawal-based WAP-4/WAM-4 or Ajni-based WAP-7.

At Karjat, it gets two or three WAG-7 or WCAM-3 bankers of Kalyan shed to push the train on the ghat section between Karjat railway station and Lonavala railway station, where the gradient is 1 in 40.

Gallery

Old Pragati Express with beautiful coach
Pragati Express – with the new Uttamakristha coaches
Pragati Express – 2nd Class seating – Uttamakristha coach

Sister trains

Dedicated Mumbai–Pune Intercity trains:

Via Kalyan	Defunct
Deccan Express	Mumbai–Pune Mail
Deccan Queen	Mumbai–Pune Mail
Indrayani Express	Mumbai–Pune Shatabdi Express
Mumbai–Pune Intercity Express
Sinhagad Express