Central Railway on Monday celebrated the 7th anniversary of its CSMT-Hazrat Nizamuddin Rajdhani Express, joining passengers, rail enthusiasts, train staff, coaching depot employees and other Central Railway personnel in the event.
An official statement said that the 22221/22222 CSMT-Hazrat Nizamuddin Rajdhani Express was launched on January 19, 2019, running between Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) in Mumbai and Hazrat Nizamuddin in Delhi. The train originally operated with one First AC coach, three AC 2-tier coaches, eight AC 3-tier coaches and a pantry car.
The service received such a strong response that within a month it was expanded to one First AC coach, five AC 2-tier coaches and twelve AC 3-tier coaches, along with the pantry car, it said.
Service increased to daily operations
Initially the service running twice a week, the train frequency was increased to four times a week from September 13, 2019. From its second anniversary on January 19, 2021, the Rajdhani began operating daily, the statement said on Monday.
First train in India to use push-pull technology
Central Railway’s Rajdhani holds the distinction of being India’s first train to run using Push-Pull technology, under the “Mission Raftar” initiative. In this mode, an engine is attached at both the front and rear of the train, eliminating the need for banker engines on steep sections and saving valuable time, thereby reducing the journey duration.
Timings and route
According to the officials, currently, the train departs CSMT Mumbai at 16:00 hours daily and reaches Hazrat Nizamuddin at 09:55 the following morning. It stops at key stations including Kalyan, Nashik Road, Jalgaon, Bhusaval, Bhopal, Virangana Lakshmibai Jhansi, Gwalior and Agra Cantt.
On the return journey, it leaves Hazrat Nizamuddin at 16:55 daily and arrives at CSMT Mumbai at 11:15 the next day.
Connectivity
The service has greatly benefited passengers from Mumbai and the surrounding suburban regions, as well as those from Nashik, Jalgaon and Bhusaval. It provides faster and more convenient connectivity to the national capital, officials said.
The iconic Rajdhani Express represents the progress of Indian Railways, offering speed, comfort and reliability while setting benchmarks in operational excellence, the statement said.