Sealdah Rajdhani Express
{{Short description|Train in India }}
{{Multiple issues|
{{notability|date=August 2024}}
{{original research|date=August 2024}}
{{more citations needed|date=August 2024}}
}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2016}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2016}}
{{italic title}}
{{Infobox rail service
| color = B22222
| name = Sealdah–New Delhi Rajdhani Express
| logo =
| image = Photo Train.jpg
| caption = New Delhi bound 12313 Sealdah Rajdhani hauled by Sealdah WAP-7
| type = Rajdhani Express
| status = Operational on daily basis
| locale = West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh & Delhi
| first = {{Start date and age|df=yes|2000|07|01}}
| operator = Eastern Railway Zone
| ridership =
| start = {{rws|Sealdah}} (SDAH)
| stops = 6
| end = {{rws|New Delhi}} (NDLS)
| distance = {{cvt|1,458|km}}
| journeytime = 17 hour 40 minutes
| frequency = Daily
| class = AC 1st Class, AC 2 Tier, AC 3 Tier
| seating = Yes
| sleeping = Yes
| autorack =
| catering = Available
| observation = Large windows
| entertainment =
| baggage =
| stock = LHB coach
| gauge = {{track gauge|1,676mm|lk=on}}
| el =
| trainnumber = 12313 / 12314
| line_used = *Calcutta Chord link line
- Howrah-Bardhaman chord (from Dankuni Jn.)
- Bardhaman-Asansol section
- Asansol-Gaya section
- Gaya–Mughalsarai section
- Mughalsarai–Kanpur section
- Kanpur–Delhi line (till New Delhi)
| speed = {{cvt|130|km/h|0}} operating speed {{cvt|81|km/h|0}} average including halts
| map = File:(New Delhi - Howrah) Rajdhani Express (via Gaya) Route map.png
{{Sealdah Rajdhani Express Route}}
| map_state = Collapsed
}}
The 12313 / 12314 Sealdah–New Delhi Rajdhani Express is a Rajdhani class train of Indian Railways which connects the capital of West Bengal, Kolkata to the National Capital of India, New Delhi through Sealdah. It is the third Rajdhani Express class train connecting Delhi and Kolkata and is the second-fastest connection between these two cities by rail. It also receives the highest priority on its route.{{cite news |title=Big Sealdah Rajdhani revamp images: Book for same fare; get these new features and comforts |url=https://www.financialexpress.com/photos/business-gallery/952460/sealdah-rajdhani-new-delhi-operation-swarn-images-features-upgrade-details-route-fare/ |access-date=19 July 2021 |work=The Financial Express |date=29 November 2017}}
Overview
Owing to the high demands of the passengers plying between Delhi and Kolkata and to ease down the existing pressure of bookings on the Howrah Rajdhani Express, Indian Railways decided to introduce another Rajdhani class train between these two cities. Since Howrah Division of Eastern Railways already had two existing Rajdhani Express trains, thus Sealdah Division of Eastern Railway was awarded with third Rajdhani Express to West Bengal. Hence on the annual railway budget of FY 2000–01, the then Minister of Railways, Mamata Banerjee, announced the starting of the Sealdah – New Delhi Rajdhani on bi-weekly basis. Based on the same, on 1 July 2000, the first Sealdah Rajdhani Express left for New Delhi from Sealdah for its maiden journey.[https://indianrailways.gov.in/railwayboard/uploads/directorate/finance_budget/Previous%20Budget%20Speeches/2000-01.pdf Sealdah-New Delhi Rajdhani Express (Bi-weekly)]
On 23 August 2006, the coaches of Sealdah Rajdhani Express were upgraded to LHB coaches to replace the older ICF coaches.
=Profitability=
According to Indian Railways, in the FY 2022-23, the 12314 New Delhi-Sealdah rake was the second highest revenue-generating train carrying 509,164 passengers in that period, the train generated the revenue of {{INRConvert|1288169274}}.{{cite news |last1=Bangla |first1=TV9 |title=India's Most Profitable Train: ১৭৬ কোটি টাকা, এই ট্রেনেরই আয় সবথেকে বেশি! বন্দে ভারত বা শতাব্দী নয় |url=https://tv9bangla.com/photo-gallery/not-shatabdi-or-vande-bharat-rajdhani-is-indias-most-profitable-train-generates-rs-176-crore-1119701-7.html |access-date=15 March 2025 |work=TV9 Bangla |date=15 September 2024 |language=bn}}{{cite news |last1=Srivastava |first1=Varnika |title=This is India's most profitable train, generates Rs 1,76,06,66,339 annually, not Rajdhani, Shatabdi, it is... |url=https://www.dnaindia.com/viral/report-this-is-india-s-most-profitable-train-generates-rs-1760666339-annually-not-rajdhani-shatabdi-it-is-3107608 |access-date=15 March 2025 |work=DNA India |language=en}}
Route and halts
- {{rws|Sealdah}}
- {{rws|Durgapur}}
- {{rws|Asansol Junction}}
- {{rws|Dhanbad Junction}}
- {{rws|Gaya Junction}}
- {{rws|Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Junction}}
- {{rws|Kanpur Central}}
- {{rws|New Delhi}}
Traction
It is hauled by a Howrah based WAP-7 (HOG) equipped locomotive from end to end. Post the transfer of HOG based WAP-7s and other electric locomotives to the Kanchrapara Locomotive Shed, officially known as the Sealdah Locomotive Shed, the Sealdah Rajdhani was occasionally spotted with the SDAH based WAP-7 (HOG) locomotive.
Time table
| class="wikitable" | |||
| style="background:gold;" | Station Code
! ! style="background:gold;" | Station name ! ! style="background:gold;" | Arrival ! ! style="background:gold;" | Departure | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| SDAH | Sealdah | --- | 16:50 |
| DGR | Durgapur | 18:48 | 18:50 |
| ASN | Asansol Junction | 19:16 | 19:20 |
| DHN | Dhanbad Junction | 20:20 | 20:25 |
| GAYA | Gaya Junction | 22:57 | 23:00 |
| DDU | Pt DD Upadhyaya Junction | 01:15 | 01:25 |
| CNB | Kanpur Central | 05:20 | 05:25 |
| NDLS | New Delhi | 10:50 | --- |
Speed
The train can reach its maximum allowed speed of {{cvt|130|km/h|0}}, except for two specific sections. One is the {{cvt|29|km|0}} stretch between New Delhi (NDLS) and Chipyana Buzurg (CPYZ), where the Railway is endeavoring to increase the maximum allowed speed from {{cvt|110|km/h|0}} to {{cvt|130|km/h|0}}. The other section is Gurpa to Gujhandi near Koderma, comprising a {{cvt|22|km|0}} long ghat portion where trains are permitted to travel at a maximum speed of {{cvt|80|km/h|0}}. Within tunnels, the speed limit is further reduced to {{cvt|65|km/h|0}}. Additionally, trains briefly touch speeds of {{cvt|100|km/h|0}} over a short distance of approximately {{cvt|3|km|1}}.
File:12314 Sdah Raj at NDLS.jpg
In 2019, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) recommended to the government the augmentation of the existing maximum permissible speed of the Delhi – Howrah route from {{cvt|130|km/h|0}} to {{cvt|160|km/h|0}}, with the aim of enhancing average speed by a minimum of 60% to facilitate quicker connectivity and trade. In alignment with this directive, the Railway Board approved a project budgeted at Rs. 6,865 crore under the Indian Railway's Mission Raftaar initiative. The project's objective is to elevate the maximum permissible speed of both the Delhi – Howrah and Kanpur – Lucknow routes to {{cvt|160|km/h|0}} by the timeline of 2022–2023. However, there has been no specific update on the progress of the project to date.{{Cite web |title=Increasing the Speed to 160 kmph on existing New Delhi – Howrah Route (including Kanpur – Lucknow) has been approved by the Government |url=https://pib.gov.in/pib.gov.in/Pressreleaseshare.aspx?PRID=1581392 |access-date=2024-04-03 |website=pib.gov.in}}
Gallery
File:Sealdah Rajdhani Express - AC 3 tier coach - B 12.jpg|Sealdah Rajdhani Express – AC 3 tier coach – B 12
File:Sealdah Rajdhani Express - AC 2 tier coach.jpg|Sealdah Rajdhani Express – AC 2 tier coach
File:Sealdah Rajdhani at New Delhi.jpg|Sealdah Rajdhani Express – AC 3 tier coach – B 7, halted at New Delhi rail station
File:Sealdah (SDAH) bound 12314 (NDLS-SDAH) Rajdhani Express.jpg|Sealdah bound 12314 Rajdhani Express
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Rajdhani Express}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sealdah-New Delhi Rajdhani Express}}
Category:Rail transport in Bihar
Category:Rail transport in Delhi
Category:Rail transport in Jharkhand
Category:Rail transport in Uttar Pradesh
Category:Rail transport in West Bengal