The 12871 / 12872 & 22861 / 22862 Ispat Express is a Superfast day train of Indian Railways connecting Kolkata with Titlagarh & Kantabanji. It covers a distance of 741 kilometers at an average speed of 57 km/h (35 mph). It has One Second Class Unreserved Seating Coaches, 2 AC 3 Tier Coaches, 2 AC Chair Car Coaches and 10 Second Sitting Chair Car Coaches. All of the classes require reservations, except for Second Class Unreserved Seating class, where Tatkal scheme is available. A pantry car is available in this train. Unlike many trains of Indian Railways, it has an advance reservation period of thirty (30) days.

Ispat Express

Overview
Service type	Express
Locale	West Bengal, Jharkhand & Odisha
First service	15 August 1976; 46 years ago (1976-08-15)
Current operator(s)	South Eastern Railways
Route
Termini	Howrah (HWH) Titlagarh Junction (TIG) on Mon, Weds & Sat Kantabanji (KBJ) on Sun, Tue, Thurs & Fri
Stops	22
Distance travelled	741 km (460 mi) as 12871/12872 & 777 km (483 mi) as 22861/22862
Average journey time	14 Hours
Service frequency	Daily (Mon, Weds, Sat as 12871/12872 & Sun, Tue, Thurs, Fri as 22861/22862)
Train number(s)	12871 / 12872 & 22861 / 22862
On-board services
Class(es)	2 AC 3 Tier, 2 AC Chair Car, 10 2nd Sitting Chair Car
Seating arrangements	Yes
Sleeping arrangements	Yes
Catering facilities	Available, Pantry Car Attached
Observation facilities	Large windows
Other facilities	Below the seats
Technical
Rolling stock	LHB coaches
Track gauge	1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in)
Operating speed	130 km/h (81 mph) maximum speed, 57 km/h (35 mph) average including halts
Route map

Traction

It is hauled by WAP-7 locomotive from Santragachielectric loco shed on its entire journey.

When it was first opened, it ran from Howrah to Jamshedpur. Later, it was extended to Rourkela, Jharsuguda, Sambalpur and then to Titlagarh. After a fifth change, its destination station was changed from Titlagarh to Kantabanji.

Route & halts

• Howrah
• Kharagpur Junction
• Tatanagar Junction
• Chakradharpur
• Rourkela Junction
• Jharsuguda Junction
• Sambalpur Junction
• Bargarh Road
• Balangir Junction
• Kantabanji
• Titlagarh Junction

Schedule

• Train runs daily for both the direction

References

• https://web.archive.org/web/20131125225205/http://www.indianrail.gov.in/