JAFMargie385530 at 00:01, 9 April 2026

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{{short description|Train in India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2024}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2015}}
{{More citations needed|date=June 2013}}
{{Infobox rail service
| box_width =
| name = Jaipur–Hyderabad Meenakshi Express
| logo = Ministry of Railways India.svg
| logo_width =
| image =
| image_width =
| caption =
| type = [[Express trains in India|Express]]
| status =
| locale =
| predecessor =
| first = {{start date and age|df=yes|2012|09}}
| last =
| successor =
| operator = [[South Central Railway zone|South Central Railway]]
| formeroperator =
| ridership =
| ridership2 =
| website =
| start = [[Jaipur railway station|Jaipur]]
| stops = 20
| end = [[Hyderabad railway station|Hyderabad]]
| distance = {{convert|1849|km|0|abbr=on}}
| journeytime = 16 hours 00 minutes
| frequency = Bi-weekly
| trainnumber = 12719 / 12720
| line_used =
| class = AC 2 Tier, AC 3 Tier, Sleeper Class, General Unreserved
| access =
| seating = Yes
| sleeping = Yes
| autorack =
| catering = Available
| observation = Large windows
| entertainment =
| baggage = No
| otherfacilities = Below the seats
| stock = [[LHB coach]]
| gauge = {{track gauge|1676mm}}
| el =
| speed = {{convert|49|km/h|0|abbr=on}} average including halts.
| owners =
| routenumber =
| map = [[File:(Hyderabad - Jaipur) Express (via Akola) Route map.png|250px|(Hyderabad - Jaipur) Express (via Akola) Route map]]
| map_state =
}}
The 12720 / 12719 '''Hyderabad -Jaipur Express''' is a train started by [[Indian Railways]] in September 2012. It connects [[Ajmer]] in [[Rajasthan]] with [[Hyderabad]] the capital of [[Telangana]]. It replaced a train called ''Meenakshi Express'' that used to run from [[Jaipur]] to [[Kacheguda]] near [[Secunderabad]] on [[metre gauge]] but was cancelled when the track was being converted to {{Track gauge|5ft6in|lk=on}} [[broad gauge]].

==Nomenclature==
The train is unofficially called by the name of its earlier ''[[avatar]]'' ''Meenakshi Express''. At Hyderabad it is simply called Ajmer Express and at Ajmer it is simply called Hyderabad Express. An earlier train [[Nagarjuna Express]] that ran between [[Tenali]] and Secunderabad and was terminated in the middle of 2007 had the train numbers but ran on a completely different route.

==Schedule==
The train runs twice a week. Train number 12720 departs every Monday and Wednesday at 20:25 hours. from Hyderabad (station code HYB) and at 20.55 hours from Secunderabad and reaches Jaipur (station code JP) after 33 hours at 05.25 hours. on Wednesday and Friday respectively. In the return direction, train number 12719 departs Jaipur every Wednesday and Friday at 15.20 hours. and reaches Hyderabad at 00.45 hours after 33 hours. The distance is {{convert|1849|km|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://indiarailinfo.com/train/2598| title=12720/Hyderabad – Ajmer Superfast Express| website=India Rail Info}}</ref>

==Route==
The train stops at [[Nizamabad, Andhra Pradesh|Nizamabad]], [[Mudkhed]], [[Hazur Sahib Nanded railway station|Nanded]], [[Purna]], [[Hingoli]], [[Washim]], [[Akola]], [[Burhanpur]], [[Khandwa]], [[Itarsi]], [[Bhopal]], [[Ujjain]], [[Ratlam]], [[Neemuch]], [[Mandsaur]], [[Chittorgarh]], [[Bhilwara]], [[Ajmer]] & [[Phulera]] en route.

When the [[metre gauge]] track between Akola and Khandwa passing through [[Satpura]] mountains & [[Khandwa]]-[[Indore]] section are converted to broad gauge, the distance will shorten to {{convert|1573|km|abbr=on}}and the time taken by the train will be reduced to 29 hours & the train will take the original route of Meenakshi Express.

==Rake composition==
The train has one AC 2 tier, two AC 3 tier, seven sleeper, six unreserved second and two luggage-cum-brake van coaches with no pantry car
but its run with LHB rake from 2 July 2017, now{{when|date=December 2021}} it has one AC 2 tier, nine AC 3 tier, seven sleeper class, two general unreserved coaches and two generator car cum luggage van.

==Loco link==
The train uses to be led by Moula Ali Diesel Shed based Twin WDM3A Locomotive from Hyderabad in both directions. The train reverses direction at Purna and Ratlam with stoppage of 20 mins in both stations.

==History==
Delhi-Jaipur-Ahmedabad Line was laid in [[Broad Gauge]] up till Marwar bypassing Ajmer via Madar. But Malwa-Rajputhana Railways did blunder & laid Udaipur-Chanderiya-Gurla as a [[Metre Gauge]]. Thus by 1873, the British had to convert BG line from Delhi to Marwar as a [[Metre Gauge]] with addition of Ajmer station. [[Jaipur]] – Madar – [[Ratlam]] – [[Indore]] was fully laid in [[Broad Gauge]] via Chittorgarh & Nimach up till Chandrawatiganj. Again Malwa-Rajputhana Railways did blunder & laid [[Ujjain]] – Chandrawatiganj – Indore in [[Metre Gauge]] & further completed the line till [[Khandwa]]. A parallel [[Broad Gauge]] line from Omkareswar to Khandwa was laid by British along with Akola-Purna [[Broad Gauge]] line in 1890–1895 AD. But [[Nizam]] Guaranteed Railways had laid the Ajanta Line from Hyderabad to Manmad in [[Metre Gauge]] by 1895 AD. Keeping the request of Nizam, the British converted Madar – Chittorgarh – Ratlam – Chandrawatiganj & Akola – Hingoli – Purna [[Broad Gauge]] line as a [[Metre Gauge]] in 1900 AD. Thus the {{convert|1349|km|abbr=on}} long Ajmer – Chittorgarh – Ratlam/Ujjain – Chandrawatiganj – Indore – Mhow – Barwaha – Khandwa – Akola – Purna – Nanded – Kacheguda Meter Gauge Line came into existence. The parallel [[Broad Gauge]] line from [[Barwaha railway station|Barwaha]] to Khandwa was scrapped in 1901 & the [[Nizam]] Guaranteed Railways started Meenakshi Express on the metre-gauge track to link the [[Hyderabad-Godavari Valley Railways]] and Malwa-Rajputhana Railways. The Khandwa–Akola metre gauge was opened in 1963 but even then no direct service was between Ajmer and Hyderabad. In 1976 railway minister Shri Kamlapat Tripathi announce amalgamation of 69/70 Ajmer-Khandwa and 581/582 Khandwa-Kacheguda passenger. Then Ajmer-Kachiguda passenger was longest {{convert|1326|km|abbr=on}} [[Metre Gauge]] Passenger train in the country. The train used to run every day to Ajmer via Nizamabad, Nanded, Purna, Akola, Khandwa, [[Indore MG]], Ratlam, Neemuch, Mandsaur and Chittorgarh. In October 1977 railway minister Shri Madhu Dandvate started 69/70 bi-weekly Ajmer-kacheguda express<ref name="budget78">{{cite web |url=http://www.indianrailways.gov.in/railwayboard/uploads/directorate/finance_budget/Previous%20Budget%20Speeches/1978-79.pdf|date=21 February 1978|title= Railway Budget speech 1978–79|website=indianrailways.gov.in|publisher=[[Government of India]], [[Ministry of Railways (India)|Ministry of Railways]]}}</ref> later on Shri Madhavrao Scindia increase the frequency 2-5-7 and extended to Jaipur. Though the train does not go to [[Ujjain]], it stops at [[Fatehabad, Madhya Pradesh|Fatehabad]] junction which is about {{convert|22.80|km|abbr=on}} each from [[Ujjain]]. This train was unofficially called Meenaxi express as it was proposed to extend to Madurai where famous MEENAXI temple is there, but it was never done and the train was discontinued in phase manner due to gauge conversion.

It was named [[Minakshi]] possibly because
# The [[Mahur, Maharashtra|Mahur]] [[Ekvira]] or [[Ekaveera]] Aayee, of [[Nanded]] district, which is the most adorable goddess of [[Marathi people]] and people living around Nizamabad and [[Adilabad]] districts, is also known [[Minakshi]] aayee.
# [[Mahakali]] goddess of [[Ujjain]], which is also adored as Minakshi.

Many [[Muslims]] of Hyderabad travel by the train for [[ziyarat]] to the dargah of ''Gharīb Nawāz'' Khwaja [[Moinuddin Chisti]] [[Sharif]] in Ajmer. [[Pushkar]] is a [[Hindu]] sacred place near Ajmer.

Also there are many Hindus of Hyderabad who travels to [[Pushkar]], a sacred place for Hindus.

==Another train with similar name==
[[File:(Ajmer - Hyderabad) Express (via Manmad) Route map.jpg|thumb|(Ajmer – Hyderabad) Express (via Manmad) Route map]]
Hyderabad-Ajmer Express (train numbers 17019 and 17020) is another train that runs between Hyderabad and Ajmer once a week. From Purna it goes to Manmad and then Itarsi. Therefore, the distance is longer at {{convert|2025|km|abbr=on}} and the time taken is 37 hours 30 minutes .<ref>{{cite web| url=http://indiarailinfo.com/train/18489| title=17020/Hyderabad – Ajmer Weekly Express| website=India Rail Info}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}
* {{cite press release| url=http://www.scrailway.gov.in/scr/web/press/index.jsp?id=524| author=South Central Railway| title=(untitled)}}{{Dead link|date=June 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

{{Railways in Northern India}}
{{Railways in Southern India}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ajmer - Hyderabad Meenakshi Express}}
[[Category:Railway services introduced in 2012]]
[[Category:Rail transport in Telangana]]
[[Category:Rail transport in Madhya Pradesh]]
[[Category:Rail transport in Rajasthan]]
[[Category:Express trains in India]]
[[Category:Transport in Ajmer]]
[[Category:Transport in Hyderabad, India]]

Hyderabad–Jaipur Meenakshi Express - Revision history

JAFMargie385530 at 00:01, 9 April 2026