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AC 2 Tier Coach of Mumbai Central-New Delhi Rajdhani

Rajdhani Express is a passenger train service in India connecting New Delhi with other important destinations, especially state capitals. Rajdhani means "The Capital" in Hindi and other Indian Languages.

History [edit]

Rajdhani Express was introduced in 1969,^[1] for providing fast connections (up to 140 km/h or 87 mph, speed variation depending upon the particular track section) from New Delhi to the capital cities of various states in India.^[2] The first Rajdhani Express left New Delhi station for Howrah station to cover a distance of 1,445 km in 17 hours 20 mins.^[3]

Rajdhani [edit]

Mumbai Central-New Delhi Rajdhani just before Borivili

Mumbai Central-New Delhi Rajdhani Express.

Comfortable interiors of a First Class AC compartment in Rajdhani Express

Rajdhanis get highest priority on the Indian railway network.^[3] They are fully air-conditioned.^[2] Passengers are served complimentary meals during the journey. Depending on the duration and timings of the journey, these could include lunch, high tea, dinner, morning tea and breakfast.^[3] Almost all Rajdhani trains offer three classes of accommodation: First Class AC with 2- or 4-berth lockable bedrooms, AC 2-tier with open berths (bays of 4 berths + 2 berths on the other side of the corridor) with curtains for privacy, and AC 3-tier (bays of 6 berths + 2 berths on the side) with curtains for privacy.^[2] Currently there are 24 pairs of Rajdhani Express trains, connecting New Delhi to Ahmedabad, Bangalore (2), Bhubaneswar(2), Chennai, Guwahati/Dibrugarh(3), Hyderabad, Ranchi(2), Kolkata (3), Jammu, Mumbai (2), Patna and Thiruvananthapuram. These trains have fewer stops than other express trains. They halt only at state capitals and prominent cities like Ratlam, Nagda, Kota, Bhopal, Itarsi Junction, Allahabad, Jhansi, Kanpur, Gaya, Balasore, Cuttack, Jamshedpur, Dhanbad, Asansol, Durgapur, Bokaro, Nagpur, Panvel, Kazipet, Vadodara and Surat.

Besides Delhi three State Capitals Mumbai, Guwahati and Calcutta are served by more than one Rajdhani Express. For instance 9 pairs of Rajdhani trains halt at Kanpur Central, as well as 5 pairs of Rajdhani Express trains halt each at Gaya Junction, Jhansi Junction, Bhopal Junction and Nagpur Junction. The state of Madhya Pradesh is served by 10 Rajdhani Express - Chennai Rajdhani, Bangalore Rajdhani (2), Secunderabad Rajdhani, Bilaspur Rajdhani, Mumbai Rajdhani, August Kranti Rajdhani (via.Ratlam) etc.

Old Rake of the now LHB Thiruvananthapuram Rajdhani Express

Rajdhani Train Routes [edit]

Gallery [edit]

• 

  WAP Engine used for high-speed Rajdhani and Shatabdi express trains

• 

  Rajdhani Express leaving Kharagpur station towards Bubhaneswar

• 

  Newly designed coaches of the Rajdhani trains

• 

  Old coaches of the Chennai Rajdhani leaving Ennore

See also [edit]

• Express trains in India
• Sampark Kranti Express
• Jan Shatabdi Express
• Garib Rath
• Shatabdi Express
• Duronto Express
• Rajya Rani Express
• Sampoorna Kranti Express

References [edit]

1. ^ "Mumbai-New Delhi Rajdhani Express turns 40". Times of India. 20-May-2012. Retrieved 04-Sep-2012. 
2. ^ ^{a b c} "Rajdhani Express". yaatra. Retrieved 04-Sep-2012. 
3. ^ ^{a b c} "Rajdhani Express and Duronto Express Trains". MakeMyTrip.com. Retrieved 04-Sep-2012. 

• www.indianrail.gov.in
• www.irctc.co.in

External links [edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Rajdhani Express

• Photo of Rajdhani Express (from IRFCA.org)
• List of All Rajdhani Expresses Trains
• [1] at Indian Rail Gov
• Travelling in Rajdhani Express