Old Train Times

by John Lacey and others

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Presented here is a random selection of train times from earlier years to give a flavour of the timetables of yesteryears.

Also see the collection of scans of old timetables in the IRFCA gallery.

Bombay - Pune

In 1901, the Bombay-Pune stretch was done in 3 hours and 26 minutes, including (steam) engine changes, attachment of bankers, and negotiating the reversing station on the Bhore Ghat. The train was the Summer Race Special. In 1944, the run time was 3 hours flat (Deccan Queen), with electric traction.

• Bombay dep. 17.10
• Karjat dep. 18.27
• Lonavala dep. 19.08
• Poona arr. 20.10

Bombay - Madras

In 1914, the 1270km Madras-Bombay stretch was done in 32 hours by the Bombay-Madras (Dadar-Madras?) Express, the fastest train on its route. In 1956, this was covered in 32 hours and 30 minutes by the Madras Mail (offering I, II, and III class accommodation), and in 28 hours and 45 minutes by the Madras Express (with ACC class on two days of the week, and I, II, and III class otherwise).

Bombay - Howrah

The Bombay-Howrah Express via Allahabad did this stretch in 37 hours in 1914

Below are shown the schedules of the Mumbai-Howrah Mail in 1907, 1987, and 2004 for comparison. All times are departures except for the last station.

1 Down Mumbai Howrah Mail / 2809 Mumbai Howrah Mail

	1907	1987	2004
Bombay	14.00	19.01	20.40
Nagpur	07.21	11.15	11.05
Gondia	09.56	13.30	13.00
Raipur	14.08	17.07	16.10
Bilaspur	16.15	19.10	18.15
Raigarh	18.59	21.05	20.10
Kharagpur	05.15	04.45	04.00
Howrah	07.35	07.13	06.25

2 Up Howrah Mumbai Mail / 2810 Howrah Mumbai Mail

	1907	1987	2004
Howrah	14.11	20.25	19.30
Kharagpur	16.31	22.10	21.25
Raigarh	02.20	06.50	04.45
Bilaspur	04.48	09.25	07.15
Raipur	07.11	11.20	09.05
Gondia	11.10	15.10	12.25
Nagpur	14.01	18.10	14.40
Bombay	07.00	07.40	05.15

Delhi - Howrah

In 1956 this journey took 27 hours 45 minutes. Fares were Rs 152-8-0 (152 rupees, 8 annas, 0 pice) in ACC class and Rs 73-4-0 (73 rupees, 4 annas, 0 pice) in First class. A detailed schedule is given below.

• Delhi Jn. dep. 08.30
• Tundla arr. 12.20 dep. 12.30
• Kanpur arr. 16.11 dep. 16.24
• Allahabad arr. 19.26 dep. 19.38
• Mogulsarai arr. 22.12 dep. 22.27
• Gaya arr. 01.39 dep. 01.47
• Hazaribagh Rd arr. 04.11 dep. 04.14
• Dhanbad arr. 05.37 dep. 05.42
• Howrah arr. 10.15

Delhi - Madras (Grand Trunk Exp.)

Below is the schedule of the Grand Trunk Express in May 1952, from a CR timetable.

• Delhi Jn. dep. 17.45
• Mathura arr. 21.00 dep. 21.15
• Agra Cantt arr. 22.12 dep. 22.17
• Jhansi arr. 02.15 dep. 02.40
• Bhopal arr. 07.40 dep. 07.55
• Itarsi arr. 10.03 dep. 10.23
• Nagpur arr. 18.00 dep. 18.20
• Balharshah arr. 23.00 dep. 23.25
• Kazipet arr. 04.20 dep. 04.40
• Bezwada arr. 08.40 dep. 09.10
• Madras arr. 19.00

• Madras dep. 08.05
• Bezwada arr. 17.20 dep. 17.40
• Kazipet arr. 22.04 dep. 22.38
• Balharshah arr. 03.35 dep. 04.00
• Nagpur arr. 09.03 dep. 09.23
• Itarsi arr. 16.50 dep. 17.25
• Bhopal arr. 19.25 dep. 19.35
• Jhansi arr. 00.30 dep. 00.55
• Agra Cantt arr. 04.55 dep. 05.05
• Mathura arr. 06.05 dep. 06.20
• Delhi Jn arr. 09.15

In April 1960, the departure from Delhi Jn. was an hour later, at 18.45, arriving at Madras much earlier, at 15.15. In the reverse direction, the departure from Madras was later, at 11.05, and arrival at Delhi Jn. at 08.30.

Ahmedabad - Delhi

In 1956, the Delhi Mail covered this 930km stretch in 22 hours and 58 minutes while the Delhi Express did it in 26 hours and 35 minutes. The former had ACC, I, II, and III class accommodation, while the latter had I, II, and III class only.

Bombay - Ahmedabad

This 490km stretch was done in 9 hours and 10 minutes by the Gujarat Mail (ACC, I, II, III accommodations), in 9 hours and 3 minutes by the Saurashtra Mail (ACC, I, II, and III), and in 11 hours and 37 minutes by the Saurashtra Express (I, II, and III). (All information from 1956.)

Bombay - Banaras

The Kashi Express (I, II, and III class accommodations) did this 1485km stretch in 28 hours and 28 minutes.

Bombay - Dehra Dun

This 1715km route was covered in 46 hours and 45 minutes by the Dehra Dun Express (with I, II, and III class accommodations) in 1956.

Bombay - Amritsar

The venerable Frontier Mail did this 1822km run in 36 hours and 10 minutes in 1956. It had ACC, I, II, and III class accommodations. It reached Delhi Jn. in 26 hours and 5 minutes.

Mangalore - Madras (Mangalore Mail)

Times in April 1960. Madras - Mangalore:

Mangalore - Madras:

• Mangalore dep. 08.45
• Erode Jn. dep. 21.45
• Madras arr. 07.30

Madras - Ooty (Nilagiri Express)

Times in April 1960. Madras - Ooty:

• Madras dep. 20.15
• Erode Jn. dep. 05.40
• Mettupalaiyam dep. 09.45
• Ooty arr. 14.00

Ooty - Madras:

• Ooty dep. 12.45
• Mettupalaiyam dep. 16.45
• Erode Jn. dep. 20.30
• Madras arr. 06.20

Indo-Ceylon Express

This train covered 675km between Madras Egmore and the Dhanushkodi Pier for connection with the Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) ferry. In the 1950s it took 19 hours and 5 minutes for this run. The detailed schedule is given below.

• Madras Egmore dep. 20.00
• Chidambaram arr. 01.38 dep. 01.43
• Tanjore arr. 04.27 dep. 04.42
• Trichinopoly arr. 05.50 dep. 06.25
• Manamadurai arr. 10.15 dep. 10.30
• Mandapam arr. 13.02 dep. 13.34 (Medical and Protection Examination for passengers proceeding overseas)
• Pamban arr. 14.12 dep. 14.16
• Dhanushkodi Pier arr. 15.05

Ferry service from Dhanushkodi Pier to Talaimannar (Ceylon). Boat leaves soon after 4pm. Time taken is about 3½ hours. No steamer service on Sunday night.

Fare from Madras First Class 36-4-0 (36 rupees, 4 annas, 0 pice).

To Rameshwaram (665km from Madras), change at Pamban dep 15.15, arr. Rameshwaram 15.45. Fare from Madras First Class 35-8-0 (35 rupees, 8 annas, 0 pice).

• Dhanushkodi Pier dep. 12.05
• Pamban arr. 12.49 dep. 12.55
• Mandapam arr. 13.34 dep. 13.45
• Manamadurai arr. 16.13 dep. 16.33
• Trichinopoly arr. 20.40 dep. 21.38
• Tanjore arr. 22.26 dep. 22.40
• Chidambaram arr. 01.14 dep. 01.19
• Madras Egmore arr. 07.25

To Rameshwaram, change at Pamban dep 12.35, arr. Rameshwaram 12.05.

In 1898, the South Indian Railway ran a Madras - Tuticorin service that connected with the boat to Ceylon. This took 21 hours and 50 minutes for the 443 mile (709km) run. The steamer from Tuticorin to Colombo took 22 hours.

Gwalior Light Railway

The following schedules are from a 1941 timetable.

Gwalior to Bhind

Station	Distance from Gwalior	8 Down Mixed	10 Down Mixed
Gwalior		dep. 15:50	dep. 8:30
Goleka Mandir	2¼	arr. 16:03 dep. 16:08	arr. 8:43 dep. 8:53
Sanichara	12¾	arr. 16:42 dep. 16:50	arr. 9:28 dep. 9:35
Rethora Kalan	16	arr. 17:05 dep. 17:08	arr. 9:50 dep. 9:53
Nonera	20½	arr. 17:21 dep. 17:30	arr. 10:06 dep. 10:15
Gohad Road	27¾	arr. 17:50 dep. 17:54	arr. 10:35 dep. 10:40
Soni	37½	arr. 18:21 dep. 18:30	arr. 11:07 dep. 11:16
Itehar	45	arr. 18:52 dep. 18:55	arr. 11:38 dep. 11:40
Bhind	52½	arr. 19:15	arr. 12:00

Bhind to Gwalior

Station	Distance from Bhind	7 Up Mixed	9 Up Mixed
Bhind		dep. 7:00	dep. 15:00
Itehar	7¼	arr. 7:20 dep. 7:23	arr. 15:20 dep.15:23
Soni	14¾	arr. 7:45 dep. 7:54	arr. 15:45 dep. 15:53
Gohad Road	24½	arr. 8:21 dep. 8:25	arr. 16:20 dep. 16:25
Nonera	31	arr. 8:45 dep. 8:54	arr. 16:45 dep. 16:54
Rethora Kalan	36¼	arr. 9:07 dep. 9:10	arr. 17:07 dep. 17:10
Sanichara	39½	arr. 9:25 dep. 9:33	arr. 17:25 dep. 17:33
Goleka Mandir	50	arr. 10:07 dep. 10:12	arr. 18:07 dep. 18:12
Gwalior	52½	arr. 10:25	arr. 18:25

Gwalior to Shivpuri

Station	Distance from Gwalior	4 Down Mixed
Gwalior		dep. 7:45
Scindia-ki-Chhaoni	1½	arr. 8:03 8:05
Ghosipura	2¼	arr. 8:12 dep. 8:16
Jiwajiganj	3¼	arr. 8:24 dep. 8:36
Punniar	14½	arr. 9:26 dep. 9:33
Naunanda	22	arr. 10:08 dep. 10:21
Renhat	31	arr. 11:00 dep. 11:08
Mahona	38½	arr. 11:47 dep. 11:53
Chorepura	51¼	arr. 12:54 dep. 13:00
Satanwara	63¾	arr. 13:54 dep. 13:57
Shivpuri	74¾	arr. 15:55

Shivpuri to Gwalior

Station	Distance from Shivpuri	3 Up Mixed
Shivpuri		dep. 7:20
Satanwara	11	arr. 8:17 dep. 8:20
Chorepura	23½	arr. 9:14 dep. 9:20
Mahona	36¼	arr. 10:21 dep. 10:27
Renhat	43¾	arr. 11:6 dep. 11:16
Naunanda	52¾	arr. 11:55 dep. 11:58
Punniar	60¼	arr. 12:43 dep. 12:50
Jiwajiganj	71½	arr. 13:40 dep. 13:52
Ghosipura	72½	arr. 14:00 dep. 14:04
Scindia-ki-Chhaoni	73¼	arr. 14:11 dep. 14:13
Gwalior	74¾	arr. 14:30

Gwalior to Sheopur Kalan

Station	Distance from Gwalior	12 Down Mixed
Gwalior		dep. 7:00
Scindia-ki-Chhaoni	1½	arr. 7:16 dep. 7:18
Ghosipura	2¼	arr. 7:25 dep. 7:35
Motijheel	4½	arr. 7:48 dep. 7:50
Bamourgaon	11½	arr. 8:18 dep. 8:27
Sumaoli	24	arr. 9:18 dep. 9:21
Jora:Alapur	31½	arr. 9:53 dep. 10:00
Sikroda	36	arr. 10:20 dep. 10:22
Kailaras	43½	arr. 10:50 dep. 11:00
Semai	50	arr. 11:24 dep. 11:27
Sabalgarh	57½	arr. 11:57 dep. 12:12
Rampahari	63	arr. 12:32 dep. 12:37
Bijaipur: Road	66¼	arr. 12:53 dep. 12:58
Birpur	77¼	arr. 13:43 dep. 13:52
Sillipur	86	arr. 14:37 dep. 14:40
Ikdori	91½	arr. 15:07 dep. 15:10
Seroni- Road	100	arr. 15:44 dep. 15:47
Khojeepura	102¾	arr. 15:59 dep. 16:02
Girdharpur	111¼	arr. 16:37 dep. 16:44
Sheopur Kalan	123¾	arr. 17:30

Sheopur Kalan to Gwalior

Station	Distance Sheopur Kalan	11 Up Mixed
Sheopur Kalan		dep. 7:35
Girdharpur	12½	arr. 8:22 dep. 8:30
Khojeepura	21	arr. 9:05 dep. 9:08
Seroni - Road	23¾	arr. 9:20 dep. 9:23
Ikdori	32¼	arr. 9:57 dep. 10:00
Sillipur	37¾	arr. 10:27 dep. 10:30
Birpur	46½	arr. 11:15 dep. 11:24
Bijaipur Road	57¼	arr. 12:09 dep. 12:14
Ramphari	60¾	arr. 12:30 dep. 12:35
Sabalgarh	66¼	arr. 12:55 dep. 13:10
Semai	73¾	arr. 13:40 dep. 13:43
Kailaras	80¼	arr. 14:7 dep. 14:15
Sikroda	87½	arr. 14:43 dep. 14:45
Jora: Alapur	92¼	arr. 15:5 dep. 15:12
Sumaoli	99¾	arr. 15:44 dep. 15:47
Bamourgaon	112¼	arr. 16:38 dep. 16:47
Motijheel	119½	arr. 17:15 dep. 17:18
Ghosipura	121¼	arr. 17:31 dep. 17:40
Scindia-ki-Chhaoni	122½	arr. 17:47 dep. 17:49
Gwalior	123¾	arr. 18:05

Miscellaneous

The Kanpur-Lucknow stretch took 1 hour 15 minutes in 1914.

And now a real old one. The following schedule was published in an 1863 timetable. Notice the reference to a 'Calcutta' origination point. This may have been a small station then, or perhaps referred to a ferry? Some references suggest there was a 'Calcutta' station near Shalimar directly across from Fort William on the other side of the Ganga. The station was said to be used only by the British military. Also note the old style spellings of some of the other stations.