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{{short description|Train in India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2016}}
{{italic title}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2016}}
{{Infobox rail service
| color = FF0000
| name = Netaji Express
| type = [[Superfast trains in India| Superfast Express]]
| logo =
| image = Kalka Mail.jpg
| caption = Netaji Express At [[Karnal railway station]]
| status =
| locale = [[West Bengal]], [[Jharkhand]], [[Bihar]], [[Uttar Pradesh]], [[Delhi]], [[Punjab, India|Punjab]] & [[Haryana]]
| first = {{start date and age|df=yes|1866|07|01}}
| last =
| operator = [[Eastern Railway zone|Eastern Railway]]
| ridership =
| start = [[Howrah railway station|Howrah]] (HWH)
| stops = 38
| end = [[Kalka railway station|Kalka]] (KLK)
| distance = {{convert|1715|km|0|abbr=on}}
| journeytime =
| frequency = Daily
| class = AC First Class, AC 2 Tier, AC 3 Tier, Sleeper Class, Unreserved
| seating = Yes
| sleeping = Yes
| autorack =
| catering = Available
| observation = Large windows
| entertainment =
| baggage = Available
| otherfacilities = Below the seats
| stock = [[LHB coach]]
| gauge = {{RailGauge|1676mm}}
| el =
| trainnumber = 13501 / 13502
| speed = {{convert|61|km/h|0|abbr=on}}
| map = {{Kalka Mail}}
| map_state = collapsed
}}

The 13501 / 13502 '''Netaji Express''', formerly known as the '''Kalka Mail''', is one of the oldest running trains in India, with a history spanning over 150 years. It operates between [[Howrah]] in [[Kolkata]], the capital of [[West Bengal]], and [[Kalka]] in [[Haryana]] via [[Gaya, India|Gaya]], [[Delhi]] & [[Chandigarh]]. Kalka serves as the railhead for the Kalka–Shimla Railway, a narrow-gauge line that connects to Shimla, which was the summer capital during the British Raj.

==History==
In the late 1850s, the [[British Raj|British Government in India]] decided to relocate their capital from [[Calcutta]] to [[Shimla]] during the summer months to protect the European population from the intense heat of the Bengal plains. To facilitate the annual migration of British officials, their families, and accompanying staff between the imperial capital at Calcutta and the summer capital in Shimla, the [[East Indian Railway Company]] inaugurated a train service on July 1, 1866. Departing from Howrah Railway Station, the service was designated as 1 UP (Up Line) / 2 DN (Down Line), known as the '''East Indian Railway Mail.''' Initially, this service operated exclusively between [[Howrah railway station|Howrah]] and [[Delhi Junction railway station|Delhi]].<ref name=Tribune>{{cite web | url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/2002/20020420/windows/main2.htm | title=The Tribune - Windows - Feature }}</ref>

The extension of the [[Ambala]] – [[Kalka]] railway line in 1891 enabled the East Indian Railway Mail to extend its route to Kalka. The subsequent opening of the [[Kalka–Shimla Railway|Kalka – Shimla]] route on November 7, 1903, facilitated the further extension of the train service to Shimla, involving a gauge change at Kalka. Passengers traveling to Shimla from Kalka transitioned from a broad gauge train to a narrow gauge East Indian Railway Mail for the final leg of the journey. Notably, both Howrah and Kalka stations featured internal carriageways along the platforms to allow the Viceroy and other dignitaries to access their rail coaches directly. The carriageway at Howrah remains in use between Platforms 8 and 9, while the carriageway at Kalka has been repurposed into a platform.<ref name=Tribune/>

The revered freedom fighter [[Netaji Subash Chandra Bose]] boarded this train from [[Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Gomoh railway station|Gomoh]] on the night of 17 January, 1941 while escaping the [[British Raj]] to [[Peshawar]]. With the rationalisation of train numbering system in the 1990s, the iconic designation 01 UP / 02 DN was discontinued.<ref>{{Cite web |title=A Train Ride Through History: Kalka Mail Gets a New Name For its Role in Netaji's Great Escape |url=https://www.news18.com/news/india/subhash-chandra-bose-birth-anniversary-kalka-mail-netaji-express-great-escape-3327005.html |website=News18 |language=en}}</ref> On July 10, 2011 this train was involved in a derailment at Malwan station in [[Fatehpur district]] that killed 70 and injured 300.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/Toll-climbs-to-70--300-injured/816260/ | title=Toll climbs to 70, 300 injured | author=indianexpress.com | date=12 July 2011 | access-date= 28 January 2014}}</ref> Utkrisht rakes were introduced on the train on October 2, 2018, making it the first train in [[Indian Railways]] to do so. The train was renamed to '''Netaji Express''' on January 21, 2021, in honor of [[Netaji Subash Chandra Bose]]'s 125th birth anniversary.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://bangla.hindustantimes.com/nation-and-world/railway-ministry-approves-renaming-of-howrah-kalka-mail-as-netaji-express-ahead-of-netaji-s-birth-anniversary-31611138451911.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210302200442/https://bangla.hindustantimes.com/nation-and-world/railway-ministry-approves-renaming-of-howrah-kalka-mail-as-netaji-express-ahead-of-netaji-s-birth-anniversary-31611138451911.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2 March 2021|title=হাওড়া–কালকা মেলের নাম পালটে ‘নেতাজি এক্সপ্রেস’, জেনে নিন কারণ|author=Hindustan Times Bangla|date=21 January 2021|access-date=14 July 2025}}</ref> On July 14, 2025, the train was upgraded with modern [[LHB coach|Linke-Hoffman Busch coaches]], making it the first passenger train to continue its slip service with LHB coaches.{{efn|In Indian Railways, when a train receives LHB coaches, either the slip service is permanently cancelled or the train serves both the destinations, but with a reduced frequency.}}<ref>{{cite news |title=नेताजी एक्सप्रेस में अब एलएचबी कोच |url=https://www.livehindustan.com/uttar-pradesh/prayagraj/story-netaji-express-upgraded-with-lhb-coaches-for-enhanced-travel-experience-201746547279073.html |access-date=7 March 2026 |work=www.livehindustan.com |date=6 May 2025 |language=hi}}</ref>

==Timings==
* 12311 departs [[Howrah railway station|Howrah]] at 21:55 IST and reaches [[Kalka railway station|Kalka]] at 03:00 IST on the third day.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Howrah Kalka Netaji Superfast Express|url=https://indiarailinfo.com/train/901=|website=indiarailinfo.com}}</ref>
* 12312 departs [[Kalka railway station|Kalka]] at 23:55 IST and reaches [[Howrah railway station|Howrah]] at 08:05 IST on the third day.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Kalka Howrah Netaji Superfast Express|url=https://indiarailinfo.com/train/902/1982/1|website=indiarailinfo.com}}</ref>

==Coach composition==
Earlier was ICF coaches and 2018 is ICF Utkrisht rakes. The train now runs with 22 [[LHB coach]], consisting of General (GEN), Sleeper (SL), Third AC (3A), Second AC (2A) and First AC (1A) classes. It has four rakes. The primary maintenance is executed at Sorting Yard Coaching Complex, {{rws|Liluah}}.

{{Indian Railways coach composition legend}}

'''Coach position of 13501'''

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders unsortable" style="text-align:center"
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:yellow;" |Loco
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:yellow;" |1
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:orange;" |2
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:orange;" |3
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:orange;" |4
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:orange;" |5
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:orange;" |6
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:yellow;" |7
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:lightskyblue;" |8
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:lightskyblue;" |9
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:lightskyblue;" |10
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:lightskyblue;" |11
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:lightskyblue;" |12
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:lightskyblue;" |13
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:lightskyblue;" |14
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:lightskyblue" |15
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:orange;" |16
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:orange;" |17
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:orange;" |18
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:orange;" |19
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:orange;" |20
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:orange;" |21
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:yellow;" |22
|-
|[[File:BSicon_LDER.svg|25x25px]]
|EOG
|GEN
|GEN
|S1
|S2
|S3
|PC
|B1
|A1
|A2
|B3
|B2
|B3
|B4
|H1
|S4
|S5
|S6
|S7
|GEN
|GEN
|EOG
|}

'''Coach position of 13502 '''

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders unsortable" style="text-align:center"
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:yellow;" |Loco
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:yellow;" |1
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:orange;" |2
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:orange;" |3
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:orange;" |4
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:orange;" |5
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:orange;" |6
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:orange;" |7
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:lightskyblue;" |8
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:lightskyblue;" |9
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:lightskyblue;" |10
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:lightskyblue;" |11
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:lightskyblue;" |12
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:lightskyblue;" |13
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:lightskyblue;" |14
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:lightskyblue" |15
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:yellow;" |16
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:orange;" |17
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:orange;" |18
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:orange;" |19
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:orange;" |20
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:orange;" |21
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:yellow;" |22
|-
|[[File:BSicon_LDER.svg|25x25px]]
|EOG
|GEN
|GEN
|S7
|S6
|S5
|S4
|H1
|B4
|B3
|B2
|B1
|A3
|A2
|A1
|PC
|S3
|S2
|S1
|GEN
|GEN
|EOG
|}

The first nine coaches of the {{rws|Kalka}} bound 13501 (i.e. the EOG-GEN-GEN-S1-S2-S3-PC-B1-A1 part) consist of the slip service to {{rws|Chandigarh}}. They are detached from the train at Chandigarh and a seating cum luggage (SLR) coach is attached infront of A2. On the train's return journey to {{rws|Howrah}} as 13502, these coaches are re-attached and the SLR coach is removed. This is done as the platforms at Kalka are too short to accommodate the full 22 coach rake. Passengers are advised to check the coach position indicator at the station before boarding.

==Traction==
Earlier [[WDM-2]] locomotives were used. The train is now hauled by a [[Electric Loco Shed, Howrah|Howrah Loco Shed]] based [[WAP-5]] / [[WAP-7]] electric locomotive on its entire journey.

==In popular culture==
This train is featured in a short story by [[Satyajit Ray]], the Indian film director and writer. In the story, ''[[Baksho Rahashya (novel)|The Mystery of the Kalka Mail]] (Baksho Rahasya)'', the three main characters travel from Calcutta to Delhi and on to Kalka on the train. The plot involves a stolen diamond and an unpublished manuscript.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A59706138 |archive-url= https://archive.today/20120721015025/http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A59706138 |url-status= dead |archive-date= 21 July 2012 |title= The Feluda Films of Satyajit Ray |publisher= h2g2| access-date = 28 January 2014}}</ref> The story was also made into a radio play and a [[Baksho Rahashya (film)|film]].

==Accidents==
===Fatehpur derailment, 2011===
{{main|Fatehpur derailment}}
15 coaches of the Kalka Mail [[Fatehpur derailment|derailed]] on the Kanpur-Fatehpur line near the [[Fatehpur railway station]] on the afternoon of 10 July 2011. Causation is unsolved though poor maintenance of the locomotive is suspected because the engine had begun swaying sideways just before the accident. More than 70 persons died and 300 were injured. The injured were taken to hospitals in Kanpur, Lucknow and Allahabad.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/Toll-climbs-to-70--300-injured/816260/ | title=Toll climbs to 70, 300 injured | author=indianexpress.com | date=12 July 2011 | access-date= 28 January 2014}}</ref><ref name="Kalka Train Accident by OneIndia">{{cite news|title=Kalka Train Accident by OneIndia|url=https://www.oneindia.com/2011/07/10/kalka-mail-accident-derailed-near-kanpur-many-injured-aid0101.html|access-date= 28 January 2014|newspaper=OneIndia}}</ref>

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Historical trains in India}}
{{Railway lines in Eastern India}}
{{Railways in Northern India}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kalka Mail}}
[[Category:Transport in Kalka]]
[[Category:Rail transport in Howrah]]
[[Category:Rail transport in Jharkhand]]
[[Category:Rail transport in Bihar]]
[[Category:Rail transport in Uttar Pradesh]]
[[Category:Rail transport in Delhi]]
[[Category:Rail transport in Haryana]]
[[Category:Rail transport in West Bengal]]
[[Category:Railway services introduced in 1866]]
[[Category:Mail trains in India]]

Netaji Express - Revision history

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