What are Sampark Kranti Express Trains?
Sampark Kranti Express trains are a series of high-speed trains that connect India’s national capital, New Delhi with the capital of a particular state or one of its important cities. The words Sampark and Kranti are Sanskrit terms that mean contact and revolution, respectively. The name of the train is an indication of the efforts undertaken by the Indian Railways to ensure superfast connectivity between various Indian cities and New Delhi. This series of trains was launched as an alternative to the Rajdhani Express trains that provide high-speed connectivity to New Delhi. Since Rajdhani Express is a fully air-conditioned train, it is an expensive travel option. Sampark Kranti trains were introduced to offer the option of high-speed travel at low fares.
The Karnataka Sampark Kranti Express was the first train of this series and it ran on 8 February 2004 from New Delhi to Yesvantpur. Currently, there are 23 pairs (46 in total) of Sampark Kranti trains that operate between various state capitals or important cities to the national capital.
Features and Facilities of Sampark Kranti Express
- Sampark Kranti falls under the category of superfast trains operated by the Indian Railways.
- These trains run at a maximum speed of 110 km/hour.
- While Sampark Kranti trains are not as fast as Rajdhani or Shatabdi, they are relatively faster than other ordinary express trains and also have fewer stops. This ensures high-speed connectivity between source and destination stations.
- Sampark Kranti trains ticket charges are almost similar to other regular or superfast express trains in India.
- Initially, Sampark Kranti Expresses were non-stop trains with no stoppages between the source and the destination station. However, commercial stops were later allowed.
- These are express trains that provide frills-free travel. This means they do not provide any special facilities that you may find in some other superfast or premium trains.
- Many Sampark Kranti trains have seats in five travel classes – 1 AC, 2 AC, 3 AC, Sleeper Class (SL), and General/Unreserved. (GEN/UR). However, some Sampark Kranti trains do not have 1 AC coaches while some others have additional AC Chair Car coaches. The Uttarakhand Sampark Kranti Express has only two travel classes, namely AC Chair Car and Chair Car.
- The ticket fares of Sampark Kranti trains do not include food prices. Most long-distance Sampark Kranti trains have pantries from where passengers can order food.
- Basic facilities like mobile charging points and hooks to hang bags are available on this series of trains. Bed-rolls are provided for passengers traveling in the AC coaches.
Sampark Kranti Express Routes
As of now, Sampark Kranti trains run between the national capital and most state capitals or important cities in India, including Margao (Goa), Tirupati, Thiruvananthapuram, Jabalpur, Darbhanga, Mumbai, Bangalore, Bhubaneswar, Guwahati, Jodhpur, Madurai, Silchar, Khajuraho, and Kolkata. Kerala Sampark Kranti Express is one of the longest-running Sampark Kranti trains. This train covers a distance of around 3415 km on one way and connects Thiruvananthapuram to Chandigarh via New Delhi.
List of Sampark Kranti Express Trains
Here’s a complete list of Sampark Kranti trains running across the country, with timings, timetable, other details, as of July 2019:
| Train | From | To | Arr. | Dep. | SMTWTFS |
| M P Smprk Krnti (12121) | Jabalpur Junction | Delhi Hazrat Nizamuddin | 09:05 | 19:10 | YNNYNYN |
| M P Smprk Krnti (12122) | Delhi Hazrat Nizamuddin | Jabalpur Junction | 08:00 | 17:25 | NYNNYNY |
| Sampark Kranthi (12217) | Trivandrum Kochuveli | Chandigarh Junction | 15:45 | 09:15 | NNNNNNY |
| Kerla S Kranti (12218) | Chandigarh Junction | Trivandrum Kochuveli | 14:45 | 08:55 | NNNYNYN |
| W B Smprk Krnti (12329) | Kolkata Sealdah | Old Delhi Junction | 12:05 | 13:10 | NNYNNNN |
| W B Smprk Krnti (12330) | Old Delhi Junction | Kolkata Sealdah | 17:25 | 19:10 | NNNYNNN |
| Uttar S Kranti (12445) | New Delhi | Udhampur | 08:05 | 20:50 | YYYYYYY |
| Uttar S Kranti (12446) | Udhampur | New Delhi | 06:50 | 19:50 | YYYYYYY |
| U P Smprk Krnti (12447) | Manikpur Junction | Delhi Hazrat Nizamuddin | 05:30 | 17:05 | YYYYNYY |
| U P Smprk Krnti (12448) | Delhi Hazrat Nizamuddin | Khajuraho | 06:35 | 20:15 | YYYNYYY |
| Goa Smprk K Exp (12449) | Madgaon Junction | Chandigarh Junction | 23:45 | 11:20 | NNYYNNN |
| Goa Smprk K Exp (12450) | Chandigarh Junction | Madgaon Junction | 13:15 | 01:30 | NYNNNNY |
| Rajsthn S Krant (12463) | Delhi Sarai Rohilla | Bikaner Junction | 10:45 | 22:25 | YNNYNYN |
| Rjsthn S Krnti (12464) | Jodhpur Junction | Delhi Sarai Rohilla | 05:35 | 19:00 | NNYNYNY |
| Porvotr S Krnti (12501) | Guwahati | New Delhi | 13:00 | 06:00 | NNYYNNY |
| Porvotr S Krnti (12502) | New Delhi | Guwahati | 08:15 | 23:45 | YNNYYNN |
| Bihar S Kranti (12565) | Darbhanga Junction | New Delhi | 05:30 | 08:35 | YYYYYYY |
| Bihar S Kranti (12566) | New Delhi | Darbhanga Junction | 11:25 | 14:20 | YYYYYYY |
| Sampark Kranti (12629) | Bangalore Yesvantpur Junction | Delhi Hazrat Nizamuddin | 13:00 | 13:50 | NNYNYNN |
| Ypr S Krnti Express (12630) | Delhi Hazrat Nizamuddin | Bangalore Yesvantpur Junction | 06:20 | 08:50 | NNNYNYN |
| Sampark Kranti (12649) | Bangalore Yesvantpur Junction | Delhi Hazrat Nizamuddin | 09:15 | 22:10 | YYNYNYY |
| Ktk Smprk K Exp (12650) | Delhi Hazrat Nizamuddin | Bangalore Yesvantpur Junction | 19:10 | 06:45 | YYYNYNY |
| Sampark Kranti (12651) | Madurai Junction | Delhi Hazrat Nizamuddin | 18:00 | 23:55 | NYNNNNY |
| T N Smprk Krnti (12652) | Delhi Hazrat Nizamuddin | Madurai Junction | 03:45 | 07:20 | NNYNYNN |
| Andhra Pradesh Smprk Krnti (12707) | Tirupati Main | Delhi Hazrat Nizamuddin | 18:00 | 05:45 | NYNYNYN |
| Ap Smprk Kranti (12708) | Delhi Hazrat Nizamuddin | Tirupati Main | 21:35 | 07:20 | YNNYNYN |
| Orissa S Kranti (12819) | Bhubaneswar | New Delhi | 20:50 | 15:30 | YNNYNNN |
| Orissa S Krnti (12820) | New Delhi | Bhubaneswar | 12:25 | 07:00 | NNYNNYN |
| C G Smprk Krnti (12823) | Durg Junction | Delhi Hazrat Nizamuddin | 09:05 | 12:00 | NYNNYNY |
| Chtsgrh S Krnti (12824) | Delhi Hazrat Nizamuddin | Durg Junction | 15:10 | 17:25 | YNYNNYN |
| Jhrkhnd S Krant (12825) | Ranchi Junction | New Delhi | 20:50 | 23:40 | NYNNYNN |
| Jhrkhnd S Krnti (12826) | New Delhi | Ranchi Junction | 04:55 | 07:00 | NNNYNNY |
| Bdts Smprk K Ex (12907) | Mumbai Bandra Terminus | Delhi Hazrat Nizamuddin | 13:45 | 16:50 | YNNYNNN |
| Mhrst Smprk K E (12908) | Delhi Hazrat Nizamuddin | Mumbai Bandra Terminus | 16:35 | 21:35 | NYNNYNN |
| Gujarat Smprk K (12917) | Ahmedabad Junction | Delhi Hazrat Nizamuddin | 10:40 | 17:20 | NYNYNYN |
| Gujrat S Kranti (12918) | Delhi Hazrat Nizamuddin | Ahmedabad Junction | 06:45 | 14:00 | NNYNYNY |
| Utr Samprk K Ex (15035) | Old Delhi Junction | Ramnagar | 20:40 | 16:00 | YYYYYYY |
| Utr Samprk K Express (15036) | Kathgodam | Old Delhi Junction | 15:20 | 08:50 | YYYYYYY |
| Kurj Nzm Express (22447) | Khajuraho | Delhi Hazrat Nizamuddin | 05:30 | 18:20 | YYYYNYY |
| Rjsthn S Krnti (22464) | Bikaner Junction | Delhi Sarai Rohilla | 05:35 | 17:15 | NNYNYNY |
| Ypr Skrantiexp (22685) | Bangalore Yesvantpur Junction | Chandigarh Junction | 18:20 | 13:50 | NNNYNNY |
| Ypr S Kranti Express (22686) | Chandigarh Junction | Bangalore Yesvantpur Junction | 06:20 | 03:15 | NNYNNNY |
| Rmr Dli Link Express (25036) | Ramnagar | Old Delhi Junction | 15:20 | 09:50 | YYYYYYY |
Sampark Kranti FAQs:
Q: Can I travel in Sampark Kranti trains without prior reservation?
A: Yes. Since Sampark Kranti trains have general/unreserved (GEN/UR) coaches, you may travel in this train without prior reservation.
Q: Is food price included in Sampark Kranti train ticket fare?
A: No. Food prices are not included in the ticket fares of Sampark Kranti trains. The train doesn’t have onboard catering services.
Q: Do Sampark Kranti trains have pantry?
A: Most long-distance Sampark Kranti trains are equipped with pantry cars. You can order food from the pantry while traveling in such trains.
Q: Can I get non-vegetarian food in Sampark Kranti trains?
A: Yes. The pantry cars of Sampark Kranti trains offer both vegetarian and non-vegetarian food to passengers.
Q: Is it possible to book tickets in Sampark Kranti Express via Tatkal service?
A: Yes. You can book Tatkal tickets in Sampark Kranti Express trains and the general Tatkal rules apply. Please note that Tatkal booking is not available for Sampark Kranti 1 AC coaches.
Q: Can senior citizens avail concession while booking tickets in Sampark Kranti trains?
A: Yes. To avail senior citizen concession in Sampark Kranti trains, male passengers must be 60 years and above while female passengers must be above 58 years. The senior citizen concession is 40 percent for men and 50 percent for women.
Q: Is Ladies Quota available in Sampark Kranti trains?
A: Yes. Sampark Kranti trains have a reservation quota for ladies. Seats under this quota can be availed by any female passenger traveling alone or in an all-female passengers group.
Q: Do they provide blankets and pillows in Sampark Kranti trains?
A: Passengers traveling in the AC coaches of Sampark Kranti trains are provided with bed-rolls that contain pillow, blanket, sheets, and hand towels. However, if you are traveling in non-AC coaches, you cannot avail this facility.
Q: Is Lower Berth Quota available in Sampark Kranti trains?
A: Yes. You can avail Lower Berth Quota in Sampark Kranti trains for AC two-tier, AC three-tier, and sleeper coaches. This quota can be availed by senior citizens, pregnant women, and female passengers above 45 years of age.
Q: Can I charge my mobile or laptop inside Sampark Kranti trains?
A: Yes. Since Sampark Kranti trains have power ports inside the coaches, you may charge your devices during the journey.
Q: What is the HA1 class found in Karnataka Sampark Kranti Express?
A: In the case of Karnataka Sampark Kranti Express, H represents 1AC or First Class AC and A1 represents 2AC or Two-Tier AC. So, HA1 refers to a coach that provides combined accommodation to both 1AC and 2AC passengers. Typically, half of the coach is 1AC and the other half is 2AC.
Q: Is New Delhi the source station/destination station for all Sampark Kranti trains?
A: No. Some Sampark Kranti trains have other cities as their source station/destination station, but they travel via New Delhi. For instance, Kerala Sampark Kranti and Goa Sampark Kranti connect the capital cities of these states to Chandigarh. However, New Delhi is a major stoppage for such trains.
Q: What is the price difference between Sampark Kranti and Rajdhani Trains?
A: While the base fare is almost the same for both these trains, the final ticket fare differs because of catering charges and dynamic pricing. For instance, the ticket charges for 2 AC from Bangalore to Delhi in Sampark Kranti are around ₹ 3300. For Rajdhani, the same will be around ₹ 4000 without dynamic pricing and might go up to ₹ 4700 or more with dynamic pricing applied.
Q: Is dynamic pricing applicable to Sampark Kranti trains?
A: No. Sampark Kranti is not a premium train, so it doesn’t have dynamic pricing.
