Old Train Times

by John Lacey and others


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:

  • Madras dep. 18.10
  • Erode Jn. dep. 03.25
  • Mangalore arr. 16.10

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 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 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 arr. 8:03
8:05
Ghosipura arr. 8:12
dep. 8:16
Jiwajiganj 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 arr. 7:16
dep. 7:18
Ghosipura arr. 7:25
dep. 7:35
Motijheel 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.

  • Calcutta 07:15
  • Howrah 07:30
  • Bally 07:46
  • Connagar 07:50
  • Serampore 08:06
  • Baidyabati 08:16
  • Chandernagore 08:30
  • Hooghly 08:40
  • Mugrah 08:55
  • Pundooah 09:18
  • Boinchee 09:33
  • Mymeree 09:52
  • Suktikur 10:13
  • Burdwan 10:35