Special Trains between Pune-Howrah
Special Train between Pune-Howrah (Train No. 02279 / 02280) time table, route, frequency and fare
Running of Daily Superfast Special Train between Pune and Howrah
Railways have decided to run daily special train between Pune and Howrah until further advice to clear the extra rush of passengers as per details given below:
Train No. 02279 Superfast daily special will leave Pune at 18.35 hrs with effect from 14.2.2025 until further advice and arrive Howrah at 03.55 hrs on third day.
Train No. 02280 Superfast daily special will leave Howrah at 22.10 hrs with effect from 16.2.2025 until further advice and arrive Pune at 07.05 hrs on third day.
Halts: Daund Chord line, Ahmednagar, Belapur, Kopargaon, Manmad Jn., Jalgaon, Bhusaval Jn., Malkapur, Shegaon, Akola, Badnera, Wardha, Nagpur, Bhandara Road, Tumsar, Gondia, Dongargarh, Rajnandgaon, Durg, Raipur, Bhatpara, Bilaspur, Champa, Raigarh, Bajrangnagar, Jharsuguda, Rourkela, Chakradharpur, Tatanagar, Kharagpur
Composition: Two AC-2 Tier, Six AC-3 Tier, 10 Sleeper class, 5 Second class seating and one pantry car.
Reservation: Bookings for fully reserved special train no. 02279 on normal fare will open from 12.02.2025 at all computerised reservation centres and on website www.irctc.co.in.
- For detailed timings at the halts of the above special trains, please visit www.enquiry.indianrail.gov.in or download NTES App
- Only passengers having confirmed tickets will be permitted to board these special trains.
- Passengers are advised to adhere all norms, SOPs related to COVID19 during the boarding, travel and at destination.
Here’s the most current information (as of mid-2025) on special trains operating between Pune and Howrah:
Contents
🚂 Pune ⇄ Howrah Special Trains Overview
🟢 02221 / 02222 – Pune–Howrah AC Special
- Full AC special train (classes 1A, 2A, 3A), running with a pantry car.
- Departures:
- 02221: Pune → Howrah, ≈ 28 h 35 min (e.g., Mondays & Saturdays)
- 02222: Howrah → Pune, ≈ 27 h 25 min on Thursdays & Saturdays
- Covers ~2,014 km with minimal stops and similar schedule to the regular Duronto
🔵 00221 / 00222 – Pune–Howrah Special (Mail/Express class)
- Mixed-class train offering 1A, 2A, 3A, and sleeper classes.
- Runs typically once weekly—departs Pune around 10:30 AM and reaches Howrah ~18:15 next day (~31 h 45 min)
- Fare estimates: ~₹5,050 for 1A, ₹2,925 for 2A, ₹2,000 for 3A as of July–June 2025
🟡 Regular Premium Trains (Not Special)
- 12221 / 12222 – Pune–Howrah Duronto Express
- A fully AC regular train running twice weekly with 1A, 2A, 3A classes.
- Generally the fastest option on the route (~28 h 35 min / 27 h 25 min)
- 12129 / 12130 – Azad Hind Express
- Daily superfast service with AC 2-tier, AC 3-tier, sleeper, and unreserved coaches.
- Covers the distance in ~28–29 h, widely used by regular passengers
- 20821 / 20822 – Santragachi–Pune Humsafar Express
- Weekly premium AC-3-tier train via Howrah (Santragachi), with catering and sleeping coaches. Not labeled a “special” but connects Pune–Howrah
⚠️ Reliability & Passenger Feedback
- Communities on Reddit consistently report that special trains on this route suffer major delays, often by 6–12 hours or more, making them less reliable for time-sensitive travel:
“They … are all ‘special’ trains and run 12–15 hours late … I never even think of booking tickets on special trains.”
“12221 Pune Duronto delays around 4–5 hrs avg & rarely 7–8 hrs … train from Mumbai is always delayed by 12–13 hrs … sometimes even 18–19 hrs”
- The Duronto and mail-express specials are occasionally scheduled lower in operational priority, hence frequent timetable slippages.
📋 Summary Table
| Train No. | Type | Frequency | Pune → Howrah Duration | Classes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 02221/02222 | AC Special | Twice-weekly | ~28 h 35 min | 1A, 2A, 3A |
| 00221/00222 | Mail/Express Special | Once-weekly | ~31 h 45 min | 1A–3A |
| 12221/12222 | Duronto Express (regular) | Twice-weekly | ~28 h 35 min / ~27 h 25 min | 1A, 2A, 3A |
| 12129/12130 | Azad Hind Express (regular) | Daily | ~28–29 h | 2A, 3A, SL, UR |
| 20821/20822 | Humsafar Express | Weekly | ~31–32 h (via SC & JU) | 3A only |
✅ Recommendations
- For reliable and well-timed travel, the Duronto Express (12221/22) or Azad Hind Express (12129/30) are your best options.
- Only choose 02221/22 or 00221 if regular Duronto is sold out—just be prepared for possible delays.
- Always check live running status via IRCTC, NTES, or official South Eastern Railway updates before departure.
- If you need fare for specific classes, timetable for upcoming dates, or seat availability—just let me know!