Howrah Rajdhani Express

Howrah Rajdhani Express

File:Howrah rajdhani exp.jpg Howrah Rajdhani Express trainboard
Overview
Service type	Rajdhani Express
Locale	Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand & West Bengal
First service	1 March 1969 (1 March 1969) from New Delhi and the first journey from Howrah was on March 3.
Current operator(s)	Eastern Railways
Route
Start	New Delhi (NDLS)
Stops	8
End	Howrah (HWH)
Distance travelled	1,451 km (902 mi) (via Gaya Junction) 1,530 km (951 mi) (via Patna Junction)
Average journey time	17 hrs 10 mins (for 12301/12302) 19hrs 55 mins (for 12305/12306)
Service frequency	6 days (via Gaya) Sunday (via Patna)
Train number(s)	12301/12302 (via Gaya) 12305/12306 (via Patna)
On-board services
Class(es)	AC 1st Class, AC 2 Tier, AC 3 Tier
Seating arrangements	Yes
Sleeping arrangements	Yes
Catering facilities	Available (included in the ticket fare)
Observation facilities	Large Windows
Entertainment facilities	Onboard WiFi Service
Baggage facilities	Available
Technical
Rolling stock	LHB Coaches
Track gauge	1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in)
Operating speed	86 km/h (53 mph) average including halts (for 12301/12302) 79 km/h (49 mph) average including halts (for 12305/12306)
Route map

Howrah Rajdhani Express (also known as Kolkata Rajdhani Express) is a Rajdhani class train of Indian Railways connects the capital of West Bengal, Kolkata to the National Capital of India, New Delhi through Howrah. The Howrah Rajdhani is the first Rajdhani Express of India and is one of the fastest train of Indian Railways. It is the second fastest connection to Kolkata after Sealdah–Bikaner Duronto Express (erstwhile Sealdah - New Delhi Duronto Express).

History

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 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 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 the Howrah Rajdhani Express was kept 120 km/hr 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 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 the 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/hr, thus reducing the time of journey by 25 min from both the 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, 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 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 1 August 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 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 the passengers.

See also

• Express trains in India
• List of named passenger trains of India
• Howrah–Delhi main line
• Sealdah Rajdhani Express

External links

• Times of India article