Tapti Ganga Express: A Lifeline for Surat’s Migrant Workforce

Connecting Gujarat to Bihar, the Tapti Ganga Express has earned its place as one of Surat’s busiest and most crucial trains. Serving as a lifeline for the migrant labor force from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, this train witnesses overwhelming crowds as thousands journey back to their home states, particularly during events like Chat Puja after Diwali.

Rush and Pre-Booking Frenzy: The demand for the Tapti Ganga Express is so high that pre-booking often fills up within a staggering 45 seconds. With over 2000 passengers on board, especially during peak times, this train reflects the incredible migration patterns from the diamond city of Surat. The train remains fully loaded all around the year and on several occasion touts have been nabbed at Surat Railway Station while reselling the tickets of this train in black.

Train Details and Schedule: The 19045/19046 Tapti Ganga Express operates as an Express train between Surat, Gujarat, and Chhapra Junction, Bihar. Named after the Tapti River in Surat and the Ganga River in Chhapra, it was initially introduced in 1990 to run between Surat and Varanasi Junction. However, in the Railway Budget 2012–13, its route was extended up to Chhapra Junction.

The train comprises 23 coaches, including 2 AC II Tier, 6 AC III Tier, 8 Sleeper class, 1 Pantry car, 1 SLR Seating cum Luggage Rake, 3 General Unreserved, and 2 EOG/HCP cum Luggage Rake.

Route and Journey: The journey covers a distance of 1728 km, taking approximately 32 hours and 45 minutes from Surat to Chhapra Junction (19045) and 33 hours and 40 minutes in the reverse direction (19046). The train’s route traverses through major states like Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar.

Notable Stops: The Tapti Ganga Express makes stops at key junctions such as Udhna Junction, Nandurbar, Jalgaon, Bhusaval Junction, Khandwa, Itarsi Junction, Jabalpur Junction, Katni Junction, Satna, Manikpur Junction, Prayagraj Chheoki Junction, Mirzapur, Varanasi Junction, Jaunpur Junction, Azamgarh, Ballia, before reaching Chhapra Junction.

Locomotive and Speed: Throughout its journey, the train is pulled by a Vadodara-based WAP-7 locomotive. While the average speed remains below 55 km/h, it operates without a Superfast surcharge.

The Tapti Ganga Express stands as a testament to the cultural and economic ties that bind the diverse regions it connects, offering a vital link for those traveling between Surat and Chhapra.

Here is the full route chart of the train from Surat to Chhapra

Here is the full route chart of the train from Chhapra to Surat