The Ashram Express (Train Codes: 12915/12916) is a superfast express train on India's broad gauge network, connecting Ahmedabad (code: ADI) and Old Delhi (code: DLI), a distance of approximately 933 km. The train is named after the famous Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad. The train runs on Indian Railways broad gauge line. The train's route runs on a broad gauge section converted from metre gauge in the 1990s. During the metre gauge era, this train ran as the 505/506 Ashram Express.[1]
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The Ashram Express runs daily. As of July 7, 2011, 12915 departs ADI at 1830 hrs and arrives at DLI at 1010 hrs the next day. 12916 departs DLI at 1520 hrs and arrives at ADI at 0740 hrs the next day, averaging 60 km/h on both runs.[2] In its journey, the train passes through the Indian states of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana and Delhi. Some cities where the Ashram Express halts en route are Palanpur, Abu Road, Ajmer, Jaipur,[dausa], Alwar and Rewari. Diesel locomotives are used to haul the train as almost the entire route of the train is on non-electrified track and over 80% of the journey is on a single line section of Indian Railways.
The Ashram Express has, on a regular basis, at least 24 carriages, making it one of the longest (in terms of rake length) express trains running on the Indian Railways network. Due to the rake length, this train has traditionally been powered by two paired diesel locomotives, connected at the head of the rake. The locomotives are usually an Indian locomotive class WDM-2 pair or a WDM-2 and WDM-3A, homed at Abu Road (code: ABR) Diesel Loco shed. However, starting in 2009, the train has also been powered by a single WDP4 locomotive belonging to the Bhagat Ki Kothi (Code: BGKT) shed (located near Jodhpur).
The train's 24 carriage rake is split into at least four classes of travel, AC 1st class (code: H/1A), AC 2 Tier (code: A/2A), AC 3 Tier (code:B/3A) and non air-conditioned reserved sleeper (SL). Also, at least 2 carriages requiring no previous travel reservation (code: General) are available to board. The passenger fare between ADI and DLI varies from INR (Indian rupee) 2100 (H/1A) to INR 170 (General). This train is very popular and is almost always overbooked. The Ashram Express is designated as a superfast train, which denotes that it gets priority over local (commuter) trains, standard express and passenger trains and most freight trains.