The Mumbai-Delhi Rajdhani Express, one of the premier trains on the Indian Railways network, completed 40 years of glorious run on May 17,and continues to be the most preferred train to travel to and from the country’s capital to its financial capital.
“Rajdhani is a brand of excellence and people are proud to travel in it. Many prefer the Rajdhani over flights because of the comfortable amenities that it offers,” said Sharat Chandrayan, chief public relations officer of the CR adding, “The 16-hour journey promises comfortable travel, and food is included in the fare. Moreover, in first class coaches, you get a choice of cuisines right from continental and Indian in both vegetarian and non-vegetarian.”
The train covers the distance of 1,385 km between Mumbai and Delhi, and takes 15 hours 50 minutes to reach Delhi, and 16 hours and five minutes in the return journey. In the early days of its run, the train consumed 19 hours and five minutes. According to officials, with the development of rail tracks and coaches, one can expect the time to come down further.
Rajdhani Express, which travels at a maximum speed of 135 kmph, was the fastest train on the Indian Railways network till 1988 before Shatabdi was introduced from Bhopal. “Rajdhanis were introduced to connect Delhi with the capital cities of all the states,” Mr Chandrayan said.
Sudhir Badami, a city-based transport expert said, “Time passes
swiftly when you are travelling in the Rajdhani. It is a convenient train, as it reaches Delhi at around 9 am.”
Earlier, the train had AC rakes, but the coaches were modified and sleeper berths were introduced in the mid 90s. The railways has drawn up plans to add more coaches in the near future. “We have introduced new rakes, and there are plans to attach additional coaches, as the train remains the first choice on the Mumbai-Delhi route,” Mr Chandrayan added.