This distance is almost the same that Gomti Express traverses. However, unlike this train, that remains mostly full [especially by daily passengers; well except AC First]. Instead of giving more and more AC Sleeper accomodations [ 6 in number from November], they should either dump this train and start a pure overnight connection b/w these 2 cities. Or give it another rake and tidy up the timings [for Pete's sake, it arrives post 0200 hrs at Lucknow].
Giving another rake would allow for late morning departure from LJN and since the...
more... same rake wouldn't be required, a late morning departure from PPTA can be done as well, instead of afternoon.Add in couple of additional stops on GKP-LJN section and it'll function like a reverse version of 12531/2.