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Taj Express

{{short description|Train in India}}

{{More citations needed|date=August 2009}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2016}}

{{Use Indian English|date=January 2016}}

{{Infobox rail service

| name = Taj Express

| logo =

| image = TajExpress.jpg

| caption = Taj Express standing on Agra Cantt Railway station

| type =

| locale = Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan & Madhya Pradesh

| first = 1 October 1964
between New Delhi & Agra

| last =

| operator =

| ridership =

| start = {{stnlnk|New Delhi}}

| stops = 10

| end = Jhansi Junction

| distance = {{convert|410|km|abbr=on}}

| journeytime = 7 hours

| frequency = Daily

| class = Executive Class

Premium Class

| seating = 2S & CC

| sleeping = No

| autorack =

| catering = No

| observation =

| entertainment =

| baggage =

| otherfacilities =

| stock =

| gauge = {{track gauge|1676mm}}

| el =

| trainnumber = 12279 / 12280

| speed = {{convert|59|km/h|abbr=on}} average with halts

| map =

| map_state =

}}

The Taj Express was started in 1964 to serve tourists travelling from Delhi to Agra. It reduced the travelling time from over three hours to around two and a half hours. Taj Express was started along the lines of Deccan Queen, which ran as a high-speed commuter-special train between {{stnlnk|Pune Junction}} and CSMT Mumbai (ex Victoria Terminus Bombay), and provided a quick and comfortable journey between Agra and Delhi. It was a very popular train, especially among foreign tourists, before the Bhopal Shatabdi was introduced in 1988. The train was extended up to Gwalior in 1985 and then to Jhansi in 2006. It was named after Taj Mahal.

History

  • In 1964 Taj Express was introduced from {{stnlnk|New Delhi}} to Agra. Running at 105 km/h, it brought down travel time on this route to 2h 35m. It was hauled by a WP-7003 steam engine. It was a train that was immensely popular with tourists, particularly foreigners, as it gave them ample time to visit the Taj Mahal and neighbouring monuments before returning to Delhi that evening. It was posted on Facebook page of Ministry of Railways, Government of India (Facebook confirmed that this is the authentic profile for this public figure.) on 1 October 2022: On this day in 1964, Taj Express, the then fastest train on the Indian Railways Network was introduced between New Delhi and Agra Cantt.
  • Surprisingly, the train did not run on Wednesdays. The Taj Mahal monument was then closed to tourists on Mondays {{Cite web |url=http://www.tajmahaltourism.com/taj-mahal-timings.html |title=Taj Mahal in Agra Tours, Taj Mahal in Agra travel, Taj Mahal in Agra Tour packages, Taj Mahal in Agra Tourism, Golden Triangle Travel |access-date=11 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160130193958/http://www.tajmahaltourism.com/taj-mahal-timings.html |archive-date=30 January 2016 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }} and the one day off on Wednesdays was a direct financial loss. The Archaeological Survey of India then decided that the Taj Mahal would remain closed on Fridays for the public except for Muslims who could pray in the mosque between 12 noon to 2 P.M.{{cite web |url=http://asi.nic.in/asi_monu_whs_agratajmahal.asp |title=Taj Mahal, Uttar Pradesh, Archaeological Survey of India |accessdate=2015-02-15 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150215034204/http://asi.nic.in/asi_monu_whs_agratajmahal.asp |archivedate=15 February 2015 |df=dmy-all }} The Taj Express still did not operate on Wednesdays.
  • In Oct, 1982 The Taj Express began using diesel locomotives (WDM-2).
  • In 1985, then-Railway Minister Madhavrao Scindia extended the Taj Express to Gwalior Junction. Journey time was 5hrs 20 min, leaving Hazrat Nizamuddin at 0710 am and reaching Gwalior at 1230 pm. The return timings were 1710 pm departure Gwalior and 2230 pm arrival Hazrat Nizamuddin. In 1989, the Wednesdays off was discontinued. The train, however, remained idle for well over four hours at Gwalior.
  • In 1986 The Taj Express began using electric locomotives.
  • 1 July 2006, the train was extended to Jhansi.
  • 4 January 2016, the train introduced LHB coach.
  • 21 February 2018, the source for 12280 and destination station of 12279, changed from Hazrat Nizamuddin (NZM) to New Delhi (NDLS).
  • 3 June 2024, three coaches of The Taj Express heading towards Jhansi got burnt after a fire broke out from one of its coaches. {{Cite web |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/delhi-railway-station-taj-express-fire-9369877/ |title=Panic on Taj Express after fire breaks out near Delhi station, passengers rescued |access-date=4 June 2024}} There are no injuries among all passenger.

Train info

class="wikitable"

|+

!Locomotive

!Ghaziabad (GZB)

!WAP-5

!WAP-7

class="wikitable"

|+

!Train coaches

!LHB rakes

class="wikitable"

|+

!ENG

!Luggage brake

& Generator car

! colspan="3" |AC Chair Car

(1st Class)

! colspan="14" |Chair Car

(2nd Class)

! colspan="2" |General

(3rd Class)

!Luggage brake

& Generator car

style="background:#C0C0C0;" |{{white|L}}

! style="background:#808080;" |{{white|EOG}}

! style="background:#00BFFF;" |{{white|C1}}

! style="background:#00BFFF;" |{{white|C2}}

! style="background:#00BFFF;" |{{white|C3}}

! style="background:#6495ED;" |{{white|D1}}

! style="background:#6495ED;" |{{white|D2}}

! style="background:#6495ED;" |{{white|D3}}

! style="background:#6495ED;" |{{white|D4}}

! style="background:#6495ED;" |{{white|D5}}

! style="background:#6495ED;" |{{white|D6}}

! style="background:#6495ED;" |{{white|D7}}

! style="background:#6495ED;" |{{white|D8}}

! style="background:#6495ED;" |{{white|D9}}

! style="background:#6495ED;" |{{white|D10}}

! style="background:#6495ED;" |{{white|D11}}

! style="background:#6495ED;" |{{white|D12}}

! style="background:#6495ED;" |{{white|D13}}

! style="background:#6495ED;" |{{white|D14}}

! style="background:#0000FF;" |{{white|GS1}}

! style="background:#0000FF;" |{{white|GS2}}

! style="background:#808080;" |{{white|EOG}}

Route

The train numbered 12279 goes from Gwalior Junction to New Delhi railway station, and train number is 12280 goes from New Delhi railway station to Jhansi.

class="wikitable"

|+

! style="background:#00FFFF;" colspan="6" | {{blue|Taj Express}}

#

!Station

!Code

!Average speed / hour

!Zone

!Address

1

|New Delhi

|NDLS

|40

|NR

|Ajmeri Gate 110002, Delhi NCT

2

|Nizamuddin, Delhi

|NZM

|70

|NR

|New Delhi 110013, Delhi NCT

3

|Faridabad

|FDB

|80

|NR

|PIN 121003, Haryana

4

|Mathura

|MTJ

|90

|NCR

|Mathura, Uttar Pradesh

5

|Raja ki Mandi, Agra

|RKM

|30

|NCR

|Agra, Uttar Pradesh

6

|Agra Cantt, Agra

|AGC

|60

|NCR

|Agra, Uttar Pradesh

7

|Dhaulpur

|DHO

|60

|NCR

|Dhaulpur, Rajasthan

8

|Morena

|MRA

|60

|NCR

|Morena, Madhya Pradesh

9

|Gwalior Junction

|GWL

|70

|NCR

|Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh

10

|Dabra

|DBA

|73

|NCR

|Dabra, Madhya Pradesh

11

|Datia

|DAA

|26

|NCR

|Datia, Madhya Pradesh

12

|Jhansi Junction

|JHS

|43

|NCR

|Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh

Locomotive

As the whole route is electrified the train is generally hauled by WAP-7 from Ghaziabad for its whole journey. But occasionally it is also hauled by WAP-5 from Ghaziabad.

See also

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

  • [https://www.irfca.org/faq/faq-history5.html https://www.irfca.org/faq/faq-history5.html]
  • [http://www.nr.indianrail.gov.in/scripts/static/RecentReleasesDisplay_h.aspx?id=1389 http://www.nr.indianrail.gov.in/scripts/static/RecentReleasesDisplay_h.aspx?id=1389]{{Dead link|date=June 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=no }}
  • [https://archive.today/20121220213030/http://www.irfca.org/~shankie/famoustrains/famtraintaj.htm History of Taj Express]

{{Railways in Northern India}}

{{Railways in Central India}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Taj Superfast Express}}

Category:Express trains in India

Category:Rail transport in Madhya Pradesh

Category:Trains from Jhansi

Category:Rail transport in Delhi

Category:Transport in Delhi

Category:Railway services introduced in 1964

Category:1964 establishments in Delhi

Category:Named passenger trains of India

Category:1964 establishments in Uttar Pradesh