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Gour Express is an express train of the Indian Railways connecting Kolkata with the district of Malda. The train covers a distance of 349.6 km (217 mi) up to Malda with the numbers 13153/54. Previously there was an additional link service of 109 km (68 mi) (from Malda to Balurghat) which used to run with the 55421/22 Malda Town–Balurghat passenger.[1]

Gour Express

Gour Express over a railway bridge
Overview
Service type	Express
Locale	West Bengal, Jharkhand
First service	20 April 1980; 42 years ago (20 April 1980)
Current operator(s)	Eastern Railways
Route
Termini	Sealdah (SDAH) Malda (MLDT)
Stops	12 up to Malda Town
Distance travelled	349.6 km (217 mi)
Average journey time	7 hours 45 minutes in up direction, 7 hours 50 minutes in down direction.
Service frequency	Daily
Train number(s)	13153/13154 (to Malda Town)
On-board services
Class(es)	First AC, Second AC, Third AC, Sleeper, Unreserved
Seating arrangements	Available
Sleeping arrangements	Available
Auto-rack arrangements	Available
Observation facilities	Large windows
Baggage facilities	Available
Technical
Rolling stock	ICF coaches
Track gauge	1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in)
Operating speed	44 km/h (27 mph) average with halts

Timeline

The Gour Express commenced operations as a triweekly express service between Sealdah and Malda from 20 April 1980. The train proved successful and the then railway minister A. B. A. Ghani Khan Choudhury played a key role in increasing the frequency of the service. On 2 October 1982, he flagged off the first run of the train as a daily service.

Through coaches to Balurghat were added to the train after the completion of the broad-gauge rail link to Balurghat in 2004 (now closed).[1]

Important stoppages

• Sealdah
• Bidhannagar Road
• Naihati Junction
• Bandel Junction
• Barddhaman Junction
• Bolpur Shantiniketan
• Ahmadpur Junction
• Sainthia Junction
• Rampurhat Junction
• Nalhati Junction
• Murarai
• Rajgram (only for 13154 service)
• Pakur
• New Farakka Junction
• Malda Town

Gour Link Express stoppage[1]

• Old Malda Junction
• Adina
• Eklakhi Junction
• Gazole
• Mahanagar
• Deotala
• Daulatpur Hat
• Buniadpur
• Gangarampur
• Malancha
• Rampur Bazar
• Mallickpurhat
• Balurghat

Timings

1. 13153 leaves Sealdah around 22:15 everyday and reaches Malda Town at 5:55 next day.
2. 13154 departs Malda Town around 21:35 everyday and reaches Sealdah at 5:00 next day.

Coach composition

The train consists of 22 passenger coaches. The train runs with the following coach composition -

• 1 Composite 1st A/C – A/C 2 tier coach
• 3 A/C 2-tier coaches
• 2 A/C 3-tier coaches
• 12 Non-A/C sleeper coaches
• 2 Unreserved sleeper coaches (UR)
• 2 Luggage-cum-Guard coaches with unreserved seating (SLR)

Of these, one Luggage-cum-Guard, one unreserved sleeper, three reserved non-A/C sleeper, one A/C 3-tier and one A/C 2-tier coach were used for the through service between Sealdah and Balurghat (now closed).[1]

Traction

As the route from Sealdah to Malda is fully electrified, it is hauled by a Howrah/Sealdah-based WAP-4/WAP-7 throughout its entire journey.

See also

• Old Malda Junction
• Sealdah railway station
• Malda Town railway station
• Gangarampur railway station
• Balurghat railway station

References

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