KGP doesn't have any long distance trains starting from KGP except KGP-VM Exp is because of 3 reasons :
1. Pitlines at KGP are small and cannot do r PM or SM at 1 go. Part by part maintainance of full rake had to be done.
2. Pitlines at KGP is not suitable for LHB maintainance.
3. SER negligence is also responsible. SER prefers...
more... SRC, SHM, PDPK for long distance trains depot. KGP CDO is always ignored and till date is not a fullfledge depot. It is still a half-cooked depot for maintaining only few ICF mainly GS coaches of some passenger turned express trains.
I thank previous RM Mamta Bannerjee for giving KGP-VM Exp to Kharagpur, the one and only long distance train starting from KGP. I still remember many railway officers refused to start this train from KGP stating pitlines issues, staff issues, infrastructure issues for maintaining AC coaches. But RM. Mamta Bannerjee was adament to start this train Biweekly from KGP, and railway babus had to follow. Later weekly service of KGP-VM Exp was extended to Purulia and it was made biweekly now.
Once ECOR wanted to extend Vishakha Exp to KGP in IRTTM, but then also SER denied citing same Pitlines issue, staff issues, infrastructure issues in KGP CDO. The proposal dropped.
For the 1st time in history of KGP, KGP-Bengaluru direct spl train is given with SM at KGP. Hope SER regularise this train.
Since KGP-HWH section is super conjested, KGP can serve as a terminal point of many long distance trains as KGP is well conected by road and rail to many places even with Howrah by EMU trains for passengers who do not get seats in trains from HWH can catch it from KGP in emergency situations.