How To Identify Superfast Express Trains Without Ticket Confusion? Explainer

Have you ever visited a train station and wondered why some trains reached the destination earlier, and they are even faster than other trains?

As we know, Indian Railways has the largest rail network in the world, and millions of people travel by train on a daily basis.

But many people are often confused between Superfast Express and normal Express/Mail trains. So, in this article, explore which trains are Superfast Express and how to identify Superfast Express trains without ticket confusion, and learn why Superfast Train tickets cost more, with Superfast charges and a quick comparison between Superfast Express & normal Express trains

What makes a train “Superfast Express”?

According to the Indian Railways, a train is called a 'Superfast Express' if the train meets the following conditions, which are given below:

1. On Broad Gauge track: The speed of the train must be maintained at an average speed of at least 55 km/h on both up and down journeys

2. On Metre Gauge Track: The train must maintain its average speed of at least 45 km/h.

How To Identify Superfast Express Trains Without Ticket Confusion?

Millions of people travel by train, and while booking the ticket, they often get confused: Is the train a superfast express or normal express/mail?

So, how to identify superfast express trains without ticket confusion? You can just tell by looking at its 5-digit train number.

Below, a table is given to make it clearer how to identify a train that the particular train is Superfast Express or a normal express/mail train

So, if the starting first two-digit number of a train is 12 or 22, then officially, the train is a Superfast Express, and if the train number starts with 13, 14, 15, or 18, then these trains come under the normal express or mail express.

Why Do Superfast Train Tickets Cost More?

Superfast train tickets cost more because these trains save your travel time and offer better schedule priority. The fare of the suoperfast express train is more expensive due to the following reasons, given below:

• Base Fare: The cost of travelling the distance.

• Reservation Fee: The fee to lock in your seat.

• Superfast Surcharge: An extra fee added only to Superfast train tickets.

• GST: Government tax (mostly on AC tickets).

Superfast Charges

• AC Ist = ₹ 75/-

• AC 2 Tier = ₹ 45/-

• First Class (Mail/Express) = ₹ 45/-

• AC 3 Tier = ₹ 45/-

• AC Chair Car = ₹ 45/-

• Sleeper (Mail/Express) = ₹30/-

• Second Sitting (Mail/Express) = ₹15/-

Express vs. Superfast: A Quick Comparison

So, next time, keep these information while you all book train tickets, which are:

• Check the speed: Always be aware of the speed of the train; the average speed of the Superfast train is at least 55 km/h.

• Check the Train Number: If the first two digits of the train number are '12' or '22', then the particular train is an office Superfast Express.