Trains Rajdhani Express Complete Guide

Rajdhani Express – Complete RRB Exam Guide

(Category: Premium Mail/Express – Indian Railways)

1. What is Rajdhani Express?

  • Introduced on: 1 March 1969 (1st train: Howrah–New Delhi)
  • Purpose: Country’s first fully air-conditioned, high-speed, long-distance Mail/Express connecting National Capital (Delhi) with State capitals / major cities
  • Name meaning: “Capital” in Hindi
  • Flagship of: Rajdhani class (next only to Shatabdi & Duronto in hierarchy)
  • Present network: 26 pairs (52 trains) as on 31.03.2024
  • Average speed (excluding halts): 85-135 km/h; Technical max.: 140 km/h (capable coaches 160 km/h)
  • Ticket fare structure: Dynamic + Rajdhani surcharge (₹45-₹75) + Superfast surcharge (₹45) + GST on food
  • Catering: Mandatory – included in fare (no “without-catering” option)
  • Priority: No. 1 in sectional precedence (even above Shatabdi)
  • Coach colour: Red-Grey (new LHB) / Red-cream (old ICF)
  • Loco: Fully electric; primarily WAP-7 (passenger) & WAP-5; earlier WAP-4/WAM-4

2. Quick-Fire Statistics for RRB

Statistic Figure
Longest run 2249 km – Thiruvananthapuram Rajdhani (12431/32)
Shortest run 1384 km – Dibrugarh Rajdhani (20503/04)
Fastest average 88 km/h – Mumbai Rajdhani (12951/52)
Slowest average 65 km/h – Dibrugarh Rajdhani (20505/06)
Fastest single run 15 h 35 m – 12952 Mumbai–NDLS
Longest time-table 42 h 30 m – 20506 Dibrugarh–NDLS
Longest non-stop 528 km – Vadodara–Kota (Mumbai Raj.)
Max. permissible speed (MPS) 140 km/h (track & coach certified)
First Rajdhani to get Vistadome coach 20503/04 Dibrugarh–NDLS (2022)
First Rajdhani to be PM Modi flagged 2014 – Patna–New Delhi (12309/10)
First Rajdhani with HOG (Head-on-Generation) 12301/02 Howrah–NDLS (2018)
First Rajdhani to run on 100% renewable energy Mumbai Rajdhani (2021 – traction + hotel load)

3. Zonal-wise Rajdhani Express List (As on 31.03.2024)

S. No. Train No. (Up/Down) Name Zone Distance (km) Time (h) Halts Avg. Speed (km/h)
1 12301/02 Howrah–New Delhi ER 1450 17 h 00 m 6 85
2 12305/06 Howrah–New Delhi (via Patna) ER 1532 19 h 55 m 8 77
3 12309/10 Patna–New Delhi ECR 999 12 h 45 m 5 78
4 12313/14 Sealdah–New Delhi ER 1458 17 h 40 m 7 82
5 12423/24 Dibrugarh–New Delhi (Rajdhani Express) NFR 2346 39 h 50 m 21 59
6 12425/26 Jammu Tawi–New Delhi NR 577 9 h 10 m 4 63
7 12431/32 Thiruvananthapuram–NZM WR 2845 41 h 15 m 19 69
8 12433/34 Chennai–NZM SR 2175 28 h 25 m 9 76
9 12435/36 Dibrugarh–New Delhi (2nd pair) NFR 2346 40 h 10 m 22 58
10 12437/38 Secunderabad–NZM SCR 1661 21 h 50 m 6 76
11 12439/40 Ranchi–New Delhi SER 1244 16 h 55 m 5 73
12 12441/42 Bilaspur–NZM SECR 1505 20 h 45 m 8 72
13 12443/44 Bhubaneswar–New Delhi ECoR 1720 22 h 50 m 9 75
14 12951/52 Mumbai Central–NDLS WR 1386 15 h 35 m 6 89
15 12953/54 August Kranti Rajdhani WR 1378 16 h 55 m 11 81
16 20501/02 Agartala–Anand Vihar NFR 2426 39 h 00 m 15 62
17 20503/04 Dibrugarh–New Delhi (Vistadome) NFR 2346 38 h 50 m 19 60
18 20505/06 Dibrugarh–New Delhi (3rd pair) NFR 2346 42 h 30 m 25 55
19 20839/40 Ranchi–New Delhi (via Bokaro) SER 1309 18 h 10 m 6 72
20 20845/46 Bhubaneswar–New Delhi (2nd pair) ECoR 1914 24 h 20 m 10 78
21 22413/14 Madgaon–NZM KR/SWR 1909 27 h 10 m 10 70
22 22691/92 Bengaluru–NZM SWR 2367 33 h 15 m 15 71
23 22811/12 Bhubaneswar–New Delhi (3rd pair) ECoR 1720 22 h 25 m 8 77
24 22823/24 Bhubaneswar–New Delhi (4th pair) ECoR 1720 23 h 00 m 9 75
25 22913/14 Bandra T–NZM (Maharashtra Raj) WR 1367 18 h 45 m 7 73
26 12303/04 Poorva Express (earlier Rajdhani slip) ER 1529 – – –

Note: Trains 20501-06 are New-Generation Rajdhani (hybrid, using LHB & Vistadome).

4. Coach Composition (Standard LHB Rajdhani)

Coach Code Qty Purpose
EOG 2 End-on-Generator (power car)
H1 1 First AC (24 berths)
A1-A4 4 Second AC (72 berths)
B1-B10 10 Third AC (640 berths)
PC 2 Pantry Car
Total 21 ~736 berths
  • Vistadome added in 20503/04 (replaces one B coach)
  • HOG trains now carry only one EOG (2nd converted to parcel van)

5. Fare Calculation (Base + Rajdhani Elements)

Class Base fare Rajdhani surcharge Superfast Catering GST* Example (1000 km)
3A ₹845 +₹75 +₹45 +₹294 +18% ₹1490
2A ₹1475 +₹75 +₹45 +₹294 +18% ₹2285
1A ₹2520 +₹75 +₹45 +₹294 +18% ₹3485

*GST on catering component only

6. Facilities & Features (RRB Favourite Points)

  • Fully AC – no sleeper class
  • Bed-rolls provided free (blanket, pillow, bedsheet, hand-towel)
  • On-board menu: Morning tea, breakfast, lunch, evening tea, dinner (fixed menu)
  • Crew: Train Superintendent (TS), 4-5 AC TTEs, 2 catering managers, RPF escort
  • Security: CCTV in all coaches (since 2021)
  • Wi-Fi: Available (Jio-rail) in most Rajdhani
  • Priority: Train No. 12951/52 gets highest sectional precedence in WR/NR
  • Traction: 100% electric; HOG saves ~21 lakh litres diesel/year for 12301/02 alone

7. Common RRB Question Bank (with One-liner Answers)

  1. Which year Rajdhani Express introduced? – 1969
  2. First Rajdhani ran between? – Howrah & New Delhi
  3. Longest Rajdhani? – Thiruvananthapuram Rajdhani (2845 km)
  4. Fastest Rajdhani? – Mumbai Rajdhani (88 km/h avg)
  5. Which state has maximum Rajdhani? – Assam (3 pairs)
  6. Mandatory feature? – Catering included in fare
  7. Max permissible speed? – 140 km/h
  8. Present coach colour? – Red-Grey (LHB)
  9. Which loco hauls Rajdhani? – WAP-7 / WAP-5
  10. First Vistadome Rajdhani? – 20503/04 Dibrugarh–NDLS
  11. HOG means? – Head-on-Generation
  12. Train having highest precedence? – 12951/52 Mumbai Rajdhani
  13. Rajdhani surcharge? – ₹75 (1A/2A), ₹45 (3A)
  14. Total berths in standard Rajdhani? – ~736
  15. Which zone has no Rajdhani terminal? – CR (Central Railway)

8. 15 MCQs for RRB (NTPC, Group-D, ALP, JE)

(Choose the correct option)

  1. In which year was the first Rajdhani Express flagged off?
    A. 1959 B. 1967 C. 1969 D. 1972
    Ans: C

  2. The longest Rajdhani Express runs between:
    A. Mumbai–NDLS B. Trivandrum–NZM C. Chennai–NZM D. Dibrugarh–NDLS
    Ans: B

  3. What is the maximum permissible speed of Rajdhani coaches?
    A. 130 km/h B. 140 km/h C. 150 km/h D. 160 km/h
    Ans: B

  4. Which of the following is NOT mandatory on Rajdhani?
    A. Pantry Car B. Sleeper Class C. AC coaches D. Catering
    Ans: B

  5. Which train has the highest sectional precedence?
    A. 12002 Bhopal Shatabdi B. 12952 Mumbai Rajdhani C. 12280 Taj Express D. 12301 Howrah Raj
    Ans: B

  6. First Rajdhani to be fitted with Vistadome coach is:
    A. 12301/02 B. 20503/04 C. 12423/24 D. 22691/92
    Ans: B

  7. Rajdhani surcharge for 3AC is:
    A. ₹30 B. ₹45 C. ₹60 D. ₹75
    Ans: B

  8. Which locomotive class primarily hauls Rajdhani?
    A. WDG-4 B. WAP-7 C. WAG-9 D. WDP-4
    Ans: B

  9. The fastest average speed among Rajdhani is approx:
    A. 65 km/h B. 78 km/h C. 88 km/h D. 95 km/h
    Ans: C

  10. How many pairs of Rajdhani are presently running?
    A. 22 B. 24 C. 26 D. 28
    Ans: C

  11. Which state is connected by maximum number of Rajdhani trains?
    A. Maharashtra B. West Bengal C. Assam D. Odisha
    Ans: C

  12. The colour scheme of new LHB Rajdhani rake is:
    A. Blue-Grey B. Red-Grey C. Green-Cream D. Yellow-Blue
    Ans: B

  13. HOG technology in Rajdhani saves:
    A. Diesel only B. Power car noise C. Both diesel & power-car noise D. None
    Ans: C

  14. Which Rajdhani covers the longest non-stop run?
    A. 12951 Mumbai B. 12301 Howrah C. 12431 Trivandrum D. 12309 Patna
    Ans: A (Vadodara–Kota 528 km)

  15. The number of First AC coaches (H1) in a standard Rajdhani is:
    A. 1 B. 2 C. 3 D. 4
    Ans: A

9. Last-Minute Revision Cheat-Sheet

  • 1969 – Birth year
  • 26 pairs – Total
  • Trivandrum – Longest
  • Mumbai – Fastest
  • Red-Grey – LHB colour
  • WAP-7 – Loco
  • 140 km/h – MPS
  • Catering compulsory – No opt-out
  • HOG – Head-on-Generation
  • Vistadome – Dibrugarh Rajdhani 1st

Revise → Attempt → Crack!

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