The 18045 / 18046 East Coast Express is a daily train that runs between Charlapalli (Hyderabad) and Shalimar (Kolkata). Earlier this train's terminating stations were Hyderabad Deccan and Howrah. From 2022 the terminal has been shifted from Howrah to Shalimar And on the other end from June 2025 Train Terminal has been shifted from Hyderabad Deccan to Charlapalli for decongesting the existing stations and to provide better service between Hyderabad and Kolkata. It is being operated with train numbers 18045/46 on a daily basis.

East Coast Express
East Coast Express train board with the old train numbers
Overview
Service typeExpress
LocaleTelangana, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha & West Bengal
First service1 August 1957; 68 years ago (1957-08-01)[1]
Current operatorSouth Eastern Railway
Route
TerminiCharlapalli (CHZ)
Kolkata Shalimar (SHM)
Stops56
Distance travelled1,566 km (973 mi)
Average journey time31 hrs 10 mins
Service frequencyDaily
Train number18045 / 18046
On-board services
ClassesAC 2 Tier, AC 3 Tier, AC 3 Tier Economy, Sleeper Class, General Unreserved
Seating arrangementsYes
Sleeping arrangementsYes
Catering facilitiesE-catering only
Observation facilitiesLarge windows
Baggage facilitiesAvailable
Other facilitiesBelow the seats
Technical
Rolling stockLHB coach
Track gauge1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in)
Operating speed51 km/h (32 mph) average including halts.

Train composition

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This train has 7 Sleeper Coaches, 5 3AC-Tier Coaches, 2 2AC-Tier Coaches, 2 3AC Economy Coaches, 2 General, 1 SLR Coach, 1 EOG Coach & 2 High Capacity Parcel Van making a total of 22 coaches.[2]

Locomotive

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The train is hauled by a Lallaguda-based WAP-7 locomotive from Charlapalli to Vijayawada. It reverses there and gets another WAP-4 of Vijayawada loco shed and hauls it up to Visakhapatnam. It again reverses there a gets a WAP-4 from Santragachi loco shed or a WAP-7 from Visakhapatnam Electric Shed to haul the train up to Howrah.

Route

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18045 – East Coast Express – SHALIMAR (KOLKATA )to CHARLAPALLI (HYDERABAD)

Station nameStation code
ShalimarSHM
MechedaMCA
Panskura JunctionPKU
Kharagpur JunctionKGP
BeldaBLDA
JaleswarJER
BastaBTS
Rupsa JunctionROP
BalasoreBLS
SoroSORO
MarkonaMKO
BhadrakhBHC
Baitarani RoadBTV
Korai HaltKRIH
Jajpur Keonjhar RoadJJKR
DhanmandalDNM
CuttackCTC
BarangBRAG
BhubaneswarBBS
Khurda RoadKUR
NirakarpurNKP
Kalupara GhatKAPG
BaluganBALU
ChilkaCLKA
KhallikotKIT
ChatrapurCAP
BrahmapurBAM
IchchapuramIPM
SompetaSPT
PalasaPSA
NaupadaNWP
Srikakulam RoadCHE
ChipurupalleCPP
VizianagaramVZM
KothavalasaKTV
SimhachalamSCM
VisakhapatnamVSKP
DuvvadaDVD
AnakapalleAKP
ElamanchiliYLM
TuniTUNI
AnnavaramANV
PithapuramPAP
SamalkotSLO
DwarapudiDWP
RajahmundryRJY
NidadavoluNDD
TadepalligudemTDD
EluruEE
VijayawadaBZA
KhammamKMT
MahbubabadMABD
WarangalWL
KazipetKZJ
JangaonZN
AlerALER
BhongirBG
CharlapalliCHZ

References

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