23-502: The 12301/ 12302 Howrah - New Delhi -Howrah Rajdhani Express (also known as Kolkata Rajdhani Express ) is a Rajdhani class Superfast Express train of Indian Railways that connects that capital of West Bengal , Kolkata ( Howrah ) to the national capital of India, New Delhi . This is the first Rajdhani Express of India and is one of the fastest trains of Indian Railways in Kolkata to Delhi route. Not only in Kolkata to Delhi route, it
46-505: A phased manner. The trains are amongst the premium services operated by Indian Railways and regularly gets a higher priority on the railway network. Passengers are served optional meals by Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), the menu of which could include morning tea , breakfast , lunch , high tea and dinner depending on the duration and timing. These trains have fewer halts than other express trains with stoppages only at prominent stations. Dynamic pricing
69-583: A week from 19 May 2003. In 1992, the coaches were again redeveloped, and the Under-slung Air Conditioning System was replaced by Roof Mounted Air Condition Package Unit (RMPU), thus becoming the only train to have it at that point of time. In 1993, Air Conditioned 3 Tier coaches were added in the train and of 3 July 1993 another service via Patna Junction railway station was also introduced from Howrah on Sunday and from New Delhi on Friday respectively. On 3 February 2006, both
92-788: Is also the fastest train in Howrah Railways Station .It connects the Howrah Railways Station in Kolkata to the New Delhi Railway Station in Delhi. Howrah Rajdhani Express is the Fastest Train From Howrah to New delhi and From New Delhi to Howrah covering the entire distance of 1450 km in just 17 hours . From 1965 onward Ministry of Railways (India) was looking for options to reduce the time travel between important destinations by implementing new technology. Hence for that very purpose
115-453: Is applicable on fares across all Rajdhani trains. There are currently 25 operational pairs of Rajdhani express including seven with Tejas coaches: • The Bilaspur Rajdhani Express is the only Rajdhani Express in India that undergoes loco reversal and loco reversal happens at Nagpur Junction railway station. • Only Rajdhani Express to operate from Anand Vihar Terminal railway station
138-480: Is provided by the 12305/12306 Howrah – New Delhi Rajdhani Express , which travels via the Asansol – Jasidih – Patna route to connect Delhi and Howrah. The Rajdhani Express bound for New Delhi (train number 12301) departs from Howrah Railway Station at 16:50 hrs and reaches New Delhi at 10:05 hrs the following day, covering a distance of 1452 km in 17 hours and 15 minutes, achieving an average speed of 84 km/h. On
161-547: Is rake sharing with 12305/12306 Howrah-New Delhi Rajdhani Express (via Patna) . Rajdhani Express The Rajdhani Express ( lit. ' Capital Express ' ) is a series of passenger train services in India operated by Indian Railways connecting the national capital New Delhi with the capitals or the largest cities of various states . Rajdhani , derived from the Sanskrit means "capital". Introduced in 1969,
184-533: The Howrah–Delhi main line was chosen for the trials owing to its technological superiority in terms of feasibility and others. Thus finally in the Railway Budget of 1969–70, an introduction of a new superfast train was announced which would connect Delhi to Kolkata in less than 18 hours, because until then the fastest trains between these two cities usually took more than 20 hours. Thus, on 1 March 1969
207-471: The railway budget . On 1 March 1969, the first Rajdhani Express with nine coaches was flagged off from New Delhi to Howrah with the return journey commencing on 3 March. The train completed the 1,450 km (900 mi) trip in 17 hours 20 minutes and was the only such train in operation till 1972, when the second Rajdhani was introduced from Mumbai . Rajdhani , derived from the Sanskrit means "capital" and later, with subsequent up-gradation of
230-544: The AC First Class was of 3 Cabin + 3 Coupe model while the AC Chair Car was of 2 x 2 seating model. At that time the train use to ply only on Monday and Friday respectively from both ends and had stoppages at Kanpur Central railway station , Mughalsarai Junction railway station and Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Gomoh railway station only. On 1 November 1971 the speed was upgraded to 130 km/h, thus reducing
253-636: The Howrah Rajdhani Express was kept 120 km/h for safety reasons, thus making it the fastest train of India at that point of time. The first train carried nine coaches, which were one Dining Car, one AC First Class, five AC Chair Car and two Generator/Power Car. The price of at that time was set at Rs. 280 for the AC First Class and Rs. 90 for AC Chair Car respectively. The coaches were specially designed and developed by Integral Coach Factory Perambur and had one of its kind vacuum brakes and under-slung air conditioning systems. Additionally
SECTION 10
#1732791915276276-485: The coaches of Rajdhani express to new Tejas coaches with enhanced features. These coaches are equipped with newer air suspensions , bio-toilets, Wi-Fi , fire alarms , CCTVs , reading lights, dedicated power sockets, automatic doors , passenger information system, improved interior and designed exterior. The trains which are equipped with all new coaches are known as "Tejas Rajdhani" express. Indian Railways plans to introduce Tejas coaches across all Rajdhani trains in
299-512: The first Rajdhani Express left from New Delhi to Howrah at 1730 hrs and arrived at its destination at 1050 hrs on the next day, completing 1450 km in a record time of 17 hours 20 minutes. The honor of hauling the first Rajdhani was done by the WDM-4 class locomotive of Indian Railways. The return Rajdhani Express left Howrah Junction on 3 March 1969 at 1700 hrs and arrived at New Delhi on its next day at 1020 hrs. The maximum permissible speed of
322-650: The pairs of Howrah Rajdhani Express were upgraded to the LHB coaches , thus paving the way for the replacement and the end of the glorious era of the ICF coaches of Rajdhani Express. While on 2 April 2013, WiFi service was introduced in the train, thus making it the only train of Indian Railways to have WiFi facility in a moving train. And finally on 23 December 2017, the train was upgraded to the Swarna Standards of Indian Railways, laced with modern amenities and facilities for
345-511: The passengers. The 12301/12302 Howrah – New Delhi Rajdhani Express follows the Dhanbad – Gaya Grand Chord route as part of its journey between Delhi and Howrah. The 12301 Howrah – New Delhi Rajdhani Express operates daily except on Sundays, while the returning train, 12302 New Delhi – Howrah Rajdhani Express, does not run on Fridays. On these specific days, the Howrah – New Delhi Rajdhani service
368-491: The return journey, the New Delhi-bound Rajdhani Express (train number 12302) departs from New Delhi at 16:50 hrs and arrives in Howrah at 09:55 hrs the next day, completing its journey in 17 hours and 5 minutes, with an average speed of 85 km/h. En-route, the train stops at the following stations; It is hauled by a Howrah Loco Shed based WAP-7 electric locomotive from end to end. The train
391-421: The side of the aisle) with curtains and three-tier with open bays containing eight berths per bay (six berths in two tiers and two berths on the side of the aisle). The coaches were exclusively manufactured by Integral Coach Factory at Chennai till 2006, when LHB coaches manufactured by Rail Coach Factory, Kapurthala were introduced. As of 2018 , each train-set costs ₹ 75 crore (US$ 9.0 million). While
414-578: The time of journey by 25 minutes from both ends. At that time the train was hauled by twin WDM-4S locomotive from Mughalsarai Shed of Indian Railways. In 1983, the Research Design and Standards Organisation in association with Chittaranjan Locomotive Works manufactured the 3900 HP WAP-1 class locomotive exclusively for Howrah Rajdhani Express. And with the introduction of the WAP-1 class locomotive,
437-496: The tracks, new Rajdhani expresses were introduced connecting major cities with the capital New Delhi . Rajdhani trains have fully air-conditioned coaches that have to be reserved in advance. While the trains initially had chair car coaches, now the trains exclusively have sleeper coaches in three configurations: first class, two-tier and three-tier . The first class has dedicated coupes , two-tier with open bays containing six berths per bay (four berths in two tiers and two on
460-494: The train length was increased to 18 coaches, by adding additional AC Two Tier Coaches. Incidentally, the locomotives were painted in the same livery as that of the Howrah Rajdhani Express. On the very same year i.e. on 1 April 1983 owing to the high popularity and huge demand the frequency of the Howrah Rajdhani (via Gaya) was increased to 4 days a week, then to 5 days a week from 1 October 1983 and finally to present 6 days
483-478: The trains are amongst the premium services operated by Indian Railways and regularly get a higher priority on the railway network. In 1960, the Railway Board of India commissioned a study to increase the speed of its trains, which was restricted to 96 km/h (60 mph) on the existent broad gauge lines. A target of 160 km/h (99 mph) with an intermediate stage of 120 km/h (75 mph)
SECTION 20
#1732791915276506-437: The trains are capable of running at higher speeds, the maximum speed is often limited to 130 km/h (81 mph) with the fastest Rajdhani permitted to reach a maximum speed of 130 km/h (81 mph) and average speeds being much lesser due to traffic congestion and lack of supporting tracks. The Rajdhani express trains are usually hauled by WAP-7 electric locomotives . In July 2021, Indian railways started upgrading
529-556: Was set for passenger trains. Research Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO) started work on the same in 1962 with field trials commencing in 1967. The coaches were manufactured by the Integral Coach Factory at Madras and hauled by diesel locomotives . On 19 February 1969, the Government of India introduced a new express train capable of reaching speeds of up to 120 km/h (75 mph) as announced in
#275724