Nagpur: The Punjab Mail, one of the earliest trains in Indian Railways, which continues to cater people, will enter its glorious 114th year on 1st June 2025.
It will complete 113 years of service to its esteemed passengers.
The Journey:
• The Punjab Mail first steamed out on 1st June 1912 from the Ballard Pier Mole station, which at the time was a hub for GIPR (Great Indian Peninsula Railway) services.
• The train used to run on fixed mail days from Bombay's Ballard Pier Mole station all the way to Peshawar, covering a distance of 2,496 km in approximately 47 hours.
• The train’s route ran predominantly over the GIPR track and passed through major cities like Itarsi, Agra, Delhi, and Lahore before terminating at Peshawar Cantonment.
• In 1914, the service shifted to originate and terminate at Bombay VT (now Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, Mumbai) and became a daily service covering the 1,541 km, Bombay-Delhi GIPR route in 29 hours and 30 minutes.
• By the early 1920s, this transit time was reduced further to 27 hours and 10 minutes.
• However in 1972, the travel time was extended back to 29 hours with added stoppages.
• Today, the Punjab Mail covers a distance of 1,928 km between Mumbai and Firozpur Cantonment in 33 hours and 35 minutes halting at 52 stations enroute.
Coaches & Traction over the years:
• The train originally consisted of six coaches: three for passengers and three for postal goods and mail. The three passenger coaches carried approximately 288 passengers.
• In the mid-1930s, IIIrd class coaches were introduced.
• In 1945, air-conditioned coaches were introduced.
• In 1968, the train was dieselized up to Jhansi and later extended from Jhansi to New Delhi by 1976, and finally to Firozpur.
• By the late 1970s/early 1980s, dual-current locomotives (WCAM/1) were used to run the train on electric traction up to Igatpuri with a traction changeover for its further journey.
• The conventional coaches of Punjab Mail were replaced with LHB coaches and the train started running with LHB coaches from 1st December, 2020 onwards.
• The train is now electric-hauled and its restaurant car has been replaced by a pantry car.
• Currently, the train runs with an occupancy of more than 250% and includes:
1 AC First Class cum AC-2 Tier, 2 AC-2 Tier, 6 AC-3 Tier, 6 Sleeper Class, 4 General second class coaches, 1 Generator van and 1 SLR (Second Luggage and Guard van)
