Golden Temple Mail - Revision history

CleanupBot: Robot: Replacing encoded entity with character

2026-03-22T05:48:02Z

Robot: Replacing encoded entity with character

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:18, 22 March 2026
Line 37:		Line 37:
	}}		}}

	'''The 12903 / 12904 Golden Temple SF Mail''' is a Daily Superfast Mail train operated by the [[Indian Railways]] that runs daily between {{stnlnk\|Bandra Terminus }} (BDTS) in [[Maharashtra]] and {{stnlnk\|Amritsar Junction}} (ASR) in [[Punjab]]. It is the fastest daily train from Mumbai to Amritsar. It is named after the [[Golden Temple]] at [[Amritsar]]. The train has operated with modern [[LHB coach]]es since 29 September 2020. Before the [[Partition of India]], it would ferry passengers arriving by Steamer from Europe directly from the [[Ballard Pier]] in [[Mumbai\|Bombay]] to the city of [[Peshawar]] on India's [[North-West Frontier Province\|North-West Frontier]].~~<~~ref name=":0"~~>~~{{cite web \|last=Shankar \|first=S \|title=Classic Trains of India- Frontier Mail \|url=http://www.irfca.org/~shankie/famoustrains/famtrainfrontier.htm \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020624173747/http://www.irfca.org/~shankie/famoustrains/famtrainfrontier.htm \|archive-date=2002-06-24 \|website=www.irfca.org}} ~~<~~/ref~~>~~ The train ran as the Frontier Mail between 1928 and 1996.		'''The 12903 / 12904 Golden Temple SF Mail''' is a Daily Superfast Mail train operated by the [[Indian Railways]] that runs daily between {{stnlnk\|Bandra Terminus }} (BDTS) in [[Maharashtra]] and {{stnlnk\|Amritsar Junction}} (ASR) in [[Punjab]]. It is the fastest daily train from Mumbai to Amritsar. It is named after the [[Golden Temple]] at [[Amritsar]]. The train has operated with modern [[LHB coach]]es since 29 September 2020. Before the [[Partition of India]], it would ferry passengers arriving by Steamer from Europe directly from the [[Ballard Pier]] in [[Mumbai\|Bombay]] to the city of [[Peshawar]] on India's [[North-West Frontier Province\|North-West Frontier]].<ref name=":0">{{cite web \|last=Shankar \|first=S \|title=Classic Trains of India- Frontier Mail \|url=http://www.irfca.org/~shankie/famoustrains/famtrainfrontier.htm \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020624173747/http://www.irfca.org/~shankie/famoustrains/famtrainfrontier.htm \|archive-date=2002-06-24 \|website=www.irfca.org}} </ref> The train ran as the Frontier Mail between 1928 and 1996.

	It operates as train number 12903 from Bandra Terminus to Amritsar Junction and as train number 12904 in the reverse direction.		It operates as train number 12903 from Bandra Terminus to Amritsar Junction and as train number 12904 in the reverse direction.
Line 46:		Line 46:
	After the opening of the Agra–Delhi Chord railway in 1905, the Great Indian Peninsula Railway and the North Western State Railway started a new through service between Bombay and Lahore, going through Agra, Mathura, Delhi, Bathinda, Ferozepur, Kasur and Raiwind. The new service, christened The Punjab Mail, commenced operations from 15 March 1905, covering the distance of 2,560 kilometres (1,590 mi) in 50 hours.		After the opening of the Agra–Delhi Chord railway in 1905, the Great Indian Peninsula Railway and the North Western State Railway started a new through service between Bombay and Lahore, going through Agra, Mathura, Delhi, Bathinda, Ferozepur, Kasur and Raiwind. The new service, christened The Punjab Mail, commenced operations from 15 March 1905, covering the distance of 2,560 kilometres (1,590 mi) in 50 hours.

	From 1st April 1911, the [[Bombay, Baroda and Central India Railway]] (BB&CIR) started operating a through service between Bombay [[Colaba railway station\|Colaba Terminus]] and [[Peshawar]], running through Surat, Baroda, Nagda, Ratlam, Kota, Mathura, Delhi, Saharanpur, Ambala, Amritsar and Lahore, known as the Northern Express, covering 2,487 kilometres (1,545 mi) in 48 hours. In response, the Great Indian Peninsular Railway extended the Punjab Mail to run through to Peshawar.~~<~~ref name=":1"~~>~~{{Cite web \|title=[IRFCA] Indian Railways FAQ - Famous Trains of IR \|url=https://www.irfca.org/faq/faq-seltrain.html#other \|access-date=2025-08-17 \|website=www.irfca.org}}~~<~~/ref~~>~~ However, owing to the lack of line capacity, both the Punjab Mail and the Northern Express ran together clubbed as a single train between Lahore and Peshawar via Narowal, Sialkot, Rawalpindi route until Lahore-Gujranwala-Rawalpindi line came up in 1920s.		From 1st April 1911, the [[Bombay, Baroda and Central India Railway]] (BB&CIR) started operating a through service between Bombay [[Colaba railway station\|Colaba Terminus]] and [[Peshawar]], running through Surat, Baroda, Nagda, Ratlam, Kota, Mathura, Delhi, Saharanpur, Ambala, Amritsar and Lahore, known as the Northern Express, covering 2,487 kilometres (1,545 mi) in 48 hours. In response, the Great Indian Peninsular Railway extended the Punjab Mail to run through to Peshawar.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web \|title=[IRFCA] Indian Railways FAQ - Famous Trains of IR \|url=https://www.irfca.org/faq/faq-seltrain.html#other \|access-date=2025-08-17 \|website=www.irfca.org}}</ref> However, owing to the lack of line capacity, both the Punjab Mail and the Northern Express ran together clubbed as a single train between Lahore and Peshawar via Narowal, Sialkot, Rawalpindi route until Lahore-Gujranwala-Rawalpindi line came up in 1920s.

	In an effort to improve the quality of the train service, the BB&CI introduced the P&O Express (named after the [[P&O\|Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company]]) from 27th October, 1927. This effort proved to be successful, and therefore, it was decided that the service be regularised. The erstwhile Northern Express (by now, called the Bombay Peshawar Mail), was sped, and it ran the same schedule as the P&O Express. It would operate with five coaches along with a luxury dining cum lounge car. The passengers of this train had access to luxurious retiring rooms at the stations on the route~~<~~ref name=":1" /~~>~~		In an effort to improve the quality of the train service, the BB&CI introduced the P&O Express (named after the [[P&O\|Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company]]) from 27th October, 1927. This effort proved to be successful, and therefore, it was decided that the service be regularised. The erstwhile Northern Express (by now, called the Bombay Peshawar Mail), was sped, and it ran the same schedule as the P&O Express. It would operate with five coaches along with a luxury dining cum lounge car. The passengers of this train had access to luxurious retiring rooms at the stations on the route<ref name=":1" />

	From 1st September 1928, the train began operating as the Frontier Mail. The then agent (now known as General Manager) of BB&CI Railway, Sir Ernest Jackson, believed that this train would compete well with the rival [[Great Indian Peninsula Railway\|GIP Railway]]'s Punjab Limited. Indeed, the Frontier Mail with its shorter route, reduced travel time to just seventy-two hours. During the autumn months between September and December, the train would depart from the [[Ballard Pier Mole railway station\|Ballard Pier Mole station]], on the [[Mumbai Port Trust Railway\|Bombay Port Trust line]]. This was for the convenience of the British who arrived in India by the P&O steamer. For the rest of the year, while the train would ply from Colaba, a separate train would run from the mole station in order to enable steamer connectivity. Upon its arrival in Bombay, The BB&CIR Headquarter building outside the [[Churchgate railway station\|Churchgate station]] would be floodlit to announce the train's safe arrival.		From 1st September 1928, the train began operating as the Frontier Mail. The then agent (now known as General Manager) of BB&CI Railway, Sir Ernest Jackson, believed that this train would compete well with the rival [[Great Indian Peninsula Railway\|GIP Railway]]'s Punjab Limited. Indeed, the Frontier Mail with its shorter route, reduced travel time to just seventy-two hours. During the autumn months between September and December, the train would depart from the [[Ballard Pier Mole railway station\|Ballard Pier Mole station]], on the [[Mumbai Port Trust Railway\|Bombay Port Trust line]]. This was for the convenience of the British who arrived in India by the P&O steamer. For the rest of the year, while the train would ply from Colaba, a separate train would run from the mole station in order to enable steamer connectivity. Upon its arrival in Bombay, The BB&CIR Headquarter building outside the [[Churchgate railway station\|Churchgate station]] would be floodlit to announce the train's safe arrival.

	Between 1928 and 1930, a flurry of changes took place in the train services between Bombay and Delhi. As a result of these changes, the Punjab Mail's run was terminated at Lahore from 1 March 1930. However, a bogie composite I and II class through carriage to Peshawar was still run on the Punjab Mail, being attached to the North Western Railway's Northern Express train between Lahore and Peshawar. For these years, the Frontier Mail continued the same route as the former Northern Express, i.e. via Bathinda between Delhi and Lahore. However from 1st September 1930, it was rerouted to run via Ambala and Amritsar on the way to Lahore. Even in the present day, the train follows this route until its terminus at Amritsar.~~<~~ref name=":1" /~~>~~		Between 1928 and 1930, a flurry of changes took place in the train services between Bombay and Delhi. As a result of these changes, the Punjab Mail's run was terminated at Lahore from 1 March 1930. However, a bogie composite I and II class through carriage to Peshawar was still run on the Punjab Mail, being attached to the North Western Railway's Northern Express train between Lahore and Peshawar. For these years, the Frontier Mail continued the same route as the former Northern Express, i.e. via Bathinda between Delhi and Lahore. However from 1st September 1930, it was rerouted to run via Ambala and Amritsar on the way to Lahore. Even in the present day, the train follows this route until its terminus at Amritsar.<ref name=":1" />

	The train was popular for its punctuality. It was believed that one's Rolex could let them down, but the Frontier Mail couldn't. In fact, when in August 1929, the train arrived 15 minutes late, the driver was asked to reason out the cause for the delay.~~<~~ref name=":0" /~~>~~		The train was popular for its punctuality. It was believed that one's Rolex could let them down, but the Frontier Mail couldn't. In fact, when in August 1929, the train arrived 15 minutes late, the driver was asked to reason out the cause for the delay.<ref name=":0" />

	During the unrest following the partition of India, the Punjab Mail, along with a host of other trains running to Lahore and beyond, was terminated at Delhi for the period between 1947 to 1948. Shortly after the partition and nationalization of Railways, the service was extended to Dera Baba Nanak near Amritsar on the India–Pakistan border. The train still runs on this route to this day but uptill Amritsar only. The train was finally renamed as the Golden Temple Mail in 1996.		During the unrest following the partition of India, the Punjab Mail, along with a host of other trains running to Lahore and beyond, was terminated at Delhi for the period between 1947 to 1948. Shortly after the partition and nationalization of Railways, the service was extended to Dera Baba Nanak near Amritsar on the India–Pakistan border. The train still runs on this route to this day but uptill Amritsar only. The train was finally renamed as the Golden Temple Mail in 1996.
Line 62:		Line 62:
	==Coaches==		==Coaches==

	The 12903/04 Golden Temple Mail has one [[Indian Railways coaching stock\|AC First Tier]], three [[Indian Railways coaching stock\|AC 2 tier]], six [[Indian Railways coaching stock\|AC 3 tier]], six [[Indian Railways coaching stock\|Sleeper class]], two [[Indian Railways coaching stock\|General unreserved coaches]], one General cum baggage coaches. It also has one Railway Mail service coach, one [[Dining car\|Pantry]] car &~~amp;~~ one High Capacity Parcel Van.		The 12903/04 Golden Temple Mail has one [[Indian Railways coaching stock\|AC First Tier]], three [[Indian Railways coaching stock\|AC 2 tier]], six [[Indian Railways coaching stock\|AC 3 tier]], six [[Indian Railways coaching stock\|Sleeper class]], two [[Indian Railways coaching stock\|General unreserved coaches]], one General cum baggage coaches. It also has one Railway Mail service coach, one [[Dining car\|Pantry]] car & one High Capacity Parcel Van.

	==Service==		==Service==
Line 69:		Line 69:

	== 1955 Crash==		== 1955 Crash==
	The train operating the service collided with another train in 1955, killing one and injuring 34.~~<~~ref~~>~~https://eparlib.nic.in/bitstream/123456789/55981/1/lsd_01_09_22-03-1955.pdf Page no. 50~~<~~/ref~~>~~		The train operating the service collided with another train in 1955, killing one and injuring 34.<ref>https://eparlib.nic.in/bitstream/123456789/55981/1/lsd_01_09_22-03-1955.pdf Page no. 50</ref>

	==Traction==		==Traction==
Line 80:		Line 80:

	==Gallery==		==Gallery==
	~~<~~gallery~~>~~		<gallery>
	File:Ballard-Pier-Mole.jpg\|The Frontier Mail departing Ballard Pier Mole Station (c. 1930s)		File:Ballard-Pier-Mole.jpg\|The Frontier Mail departing Ballard Pier Mole Station (c. 1930s)
	File:Vadodra based WAP-7 leading Golden Temple Mail.jpg\|Vadodra based WAP-7 locomotive for Golden Temple Mail.		File:Vadodra based WAP-7 leading Golden Temple Mail.jpg\|Vadodra based WAP-7 locomotive for Golden Temple Mail.
Line 91:		Line 91:
	File:The Mail coach of Golden Temple Mail.jpg\|Red ICF Mail coach of Golden Temple Mail		File:The Mail coach of Golden Temple Mail.jpg\|Red ICF Mail coach of Golden Temple Mail
	File:Golden temple mail at Jalandhar.jpg\|Golden Temple Mail At Jalandhar City Junction		File:Golden temple mail at Jalandhar.jpg\|Golden Temple Mail At Jalandhar City Junction
	~~<~~/gallery~~>~~		</gallery>

	==References==		==References==

Shahidkumar: Improved structure and clarity

2026-01-07T08:23:18Z

Improved structure and clarity

Show changes

2401:4900:1B81:8E1D:1:1:700B:4979: /* Accident */ Fixed grammar

2021-07-08T06:15:45Z

Accident: Fixed grammar

New page

{{short description|SuperFast Express Train in India connecting Amritsar, Punjab with Mumbai, Maharashtra}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}}
{{Infobox rail service
| name = Golden Temple Mail
| image= 12903 Frontier Mail (2).jpg
| caption =
| type = [[Mail trains in India|Mail]]
| locale = [[Maharashtra]], [[Gujarat]], [[Madhya Pradesh]], [[Rajasthan]], [[Uttar Pradesh]], [[Haryana]], [[Delhi]] & [[Punjab, India|Punjab]]
| first = {{start date and age|df=yes|1928|09|01}}
| last =
| operator = [[Western Railway zone|Western Railways]]
| ridership =
| start = {{rws|Mumbai Central}} '''(MMCT)'''
| stops = 35
| end = {{rws|Amritsar Junction}} '''(ASR)'''
| distance = {{convert|1893|km|0|abbr=on}}
| journeytime = 31 hours 40 minutes
| frequency = Daily
| class = {{ubl|AC 1st Class, AC 2 tier, AC 3 tier, Sleeper Class, General Unreserved}}
| seating = Yes
| sleeping = Yes
| catering = Available
| observation =
| entertainment =
| baggage = Overhead racks
| otherfacilities =
| stock = [[LHB Coaches]]
| gauge = {{RailGauge|1676mm|allk=on}}
| el =
| trainnumber = 12903 / 12904
| speed = {{convert|59|km/h|0|abbr=on}} average including halts
| map = [[File:Golden Temple Mail Express (Amritsar - Mumbai) Route map.jpg|250px]]
| map_state =
}}

The 12903 / 12904 '''Golden Temple Mail''' is a [[Mail trains in India|Mail]] train belonging to [[Indian Railways]] that runs daily between [[Mumbai Central railway station|Mumbai Central]] ('''MMCT''') in [[Maharashtra]] and [[Amritsar railway station|Amritsar Junction]] ('''ASR''') in [[Punjab]]. It is named after the famous [[Golden Temple]] at [[Amritsar]]. The train will run with modern [[LHB coaches]] from 29 September 2020. The train ran as the Frontier Mail between 1928 and 1996, ferrying passengers arriving by Steamer from Europe directly from [[Ballard Pier]] in [[Mumbai|Bombay]] to the city of [[Peshawar]] on India's [[North-West Frontier Province (1901–55)|North-West Frontier]] before the [[Partition of India]].<ref>http://www.irfca.org/~shankie/famoustrains/famtrainfrontier.htm</ref>

It operates as train number 12903 from [[Mumbai Central railway station|Mumbai Central]] to [[Amritsar railway station|Amritsar Junction]] and as train number 12904 in the reverse direction.

==History==
The Golden Temple Mail was until September 1996 known as Frontier Mail. Prior the [[Partition of India]], it would run up to [[Peshawar]] on [[British India]]'s frontier with [[Afghanistan]] from which it derived its name. During the autumn months between September and December, the train used to depart from the [[Ballard Pier Mole railway station|Ballard Pier Mole]] station. This was for the convenience of the British who arrived in India by steamer. The Frontier Mail also finds a place in romanticised biographies of film actor [[Prithviraj Kapoor]] who is believed to have travelled to Bombay from his hometown of Peshawar by the Frontier Mail in 1928 to act in films. ''[[Hunterwali]]'', probably India's first action heroine, has acted in the film Miss Frontier Mail. The ''Frontier Mail'' was the first [[Air conditioning|air conditioned]] train in the [[Indian Peninsula]], when it got an air-conditioned compartment in 1934. The radio facility was provided for the first time in the Golden Temple Mail.

==Coaches==

The 12903/04 Golden Temple Mail has 1 [[Indian Railways coaching stock|AC First Cum AC 2 Tier]], 2 [[Indian Railways coaching stock|AC 2 tier]], 5 [[Indian Railways coaching stock|AC 3 tier]], 1 [[Indian Railways coaching stock|Sleeper Class]], 2 [[Indian Railways coaching stock|General unreserved coaches]], 2 General cum baggage coaches. It also has 1 Railway Mail service coach, 1 [[Dining car|Pantry]] car & 1 High Capacity Parcel Van.

==Service==

The Golden Temple Mail runs between [[Mumbai Central railway station|Mumbai Central]] and [[Amritsar railway station|Amritsar Junction]]. It is a daily service covering the distance of 1891 km in 32 hours 15 mins as 12903 Golden Temple Mail averaging 58.64 km/hr & 31 hours 55 mins as 12904 Golden Temple Mail averaging 59.25 km/hr.

== Accident==
The Down Frontier Mail, from Bombay side, with a load of 13 coaches, entered Fateh Singhpura Station on the loop line which was already occupied by No. 1118 up goods train, and collided with it The two coaches next to the engine of the Frontier Mail remained on he line undamaged, the third, a II class bogie coach, derailed, and the fourth, also a II class bogie coach, telescoped into the former. The fifth coach remained on the line but was slightly damaged, and the remaining 8 coaches remained on the line undamaged. The engines of the two trains and goods wagons are reported to have suffered hardly any damage. One, Shri Shiv Charan Singh, retired Principal of Government College, Rupar, a II class passenger in the third coach, unfortunately died, and thirty-four other passengers holding different classes of tickets received minor injuries.<ref>https://eparlib.nic.in/bitstream/123456789/55981/1/lsd_01_09_22-03-1955.pdf Page no. 50</ref>

==Traction==

Earlier Dual traction [[Indian locomotive class WCAM 2/2P|WCAM 2/2P]] locos would haul the train between [[Mumbai Central railway station|Mumbai Central]] and [[Vadodara railway station|Vadodara]] after which a [[Vadodara railway station|Vadodara]] based [[Indian locomotive class WAP-4|WAP 4]] would take over until [[Amritsar railway station|Amritsar]].

Since [[Western Railway zone|Western Railways]] completed DC Electric Conversion to AC on 5 February 2012, it is now regularly hauled by a [[Vadodara railway station|Vadodara]] / [[Valsad railway station|Valsad]] based [[WAP 4|WAP 4E]] locomotive from end to end.

==Routing==

The train runs from {{rws|Mumbai Central}} via {{rws|Borivali}}, {{rws|Surat}}, {{rws|Vadodara}}, {{rws|Ratlam Junction}}, {{rws|Nagda}}, {{rws|Kota Junction}}, {{rws|Sawai Madhopur}}, {{rws|Gangapur City}},{{res|Bharatpur}}, {{rws|Mathura}}, {{rws|Hazrat Nizamuddin}}, {{rws|Ghaziabad}}, {{rws|Meerut City}}, {{rws|Saharanpur}}, {{rws|Ambala Cantonment}}, {{rws|Ludhiana}}, {{rws|Phagwara}}, {{rws|Jalandhar City}}, {{rws|Beas Junction}} to {{rws|Amritsar Junction}}.

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:12903 Frontier Mail.jpg|12903 Golden Temple Mail - Coach HA1
File:12903 Golden Temple Mail.jpg|12903 Golden Temple Mail
File:Golden Temple Mail - AC 3 tier coach.jpg|Golden Temple Mail - AC 3 tier coach
File:The Mail coach of Golden Temple Mail.jpg|The Mail coach of Golden Temple Mail
</gallery>

==Notes==

{{notelist}}

==References==

{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110809032241/http://irfca.org/~shankie/famoustrains/famtrainfrontier.htm About this train]
* [https://expresstrainroute.com/trains/12904-golden-temple-mail Golden Temple Mail]
* [https://eparlib.nic.in/bitstream/123456789/55981/1/lsd_01_09_22-03-1955.pdf Accident this train page no.50]
* [http://indiarailinfo.com/train/map/537/344/297 Golden Temple Mail Route Map]
* [https://archive.is/20130415020433/]
* [http://forum.irfca.org/showthread.php/5550-Does-the-Frontier-Mail-run-completely-on-electric-raction Locomotive link]

{{Railways in Northern India}}
{{Historical trains in India}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Golden Temple Mail}}
[[Category:Transport in Mumbai]]
[[Category:Transport in Amritsar]]
[[Category:Railway services introduced in 1928]]
[[Category:Rail transport in Punjab, India]]
[[Category:Rail transport in Madhya Pradesh]]
[[Category:Rail transport in Haryana]]
[[Category:Rail transport in Rajasthan]]
[[Category:Rail transport in Delhi]]
[[Category:Rail transport in Maharashtra]]
[[Category:Rail transport in Gujarat]]
[[Category:Rail transport in Uttar Pradesh]]
[[Category:Mail trains in India]]