Rajendra Nagar-New Delhi Tejas Rajdhani Express

Rajendra Nagar-New Delhi Tejas Rajdhani Express

Overview
Service type	Tejas-Rajdhani Express
Locale	Bihar, Uttar Pradesh & Delhi
First service	1 September 1996 (1996-09-01)
Current operator(s)	East Central Railways
Route
Termini	Rajendra Nagar Terminal (RJPB) New Delhi (NDLS)
Stops	6
Distance travelled	1,001 km (622 mi)
Average journey time	12 hours 5min
Service frequency	Daily
Train number(s)	12309 / 12310
On-board services
Class(es)	AC 1st Class, AC 2 Tier, AC 3 Tier
Seating arrangements	Yes
Sleeping arrangements	Yes
Catering facilities	Available
Observation facilities	Large windows
Baggage facilities	Yes
Technical
Rolling stock	Tejas rakes
Track gauge	1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in)
Operating speed	160 km/h (99 mph) (top speed) 130 km/h (81 mph) (top operating speed)
Route map 12309 ↓ Rajendra Nagar Terminal Patna Junction Bihar Uttar Pradesh border Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Junction Prayagraj Junction Kanpur Central Uttar Pradesh New Delhi 12310 ↑ New Delhi 12309 - Rajendra Nagar Terminal → New Delhi 12310 - New Delhi → Rajendra Nagar Terminal

The 12309 / 12310 Rajendra Nagar-New Delhi Tejas Rajdhani Express is a Semi-High Speed Fully AC Train that connects Patna with and Delhi. It is fastest train on the Patna–Delhi section and fifth fastest Rajdhani of Indian railways. It is the fastest train in covering the Delhi–Kanpur section. It also comes in top 10 fastest trains of Indian railways.

History

This Train was originally introduced in the Annual Railway Budget of 1996–97 as a daily Rajdhani Express from New Delhi to Patna via Lucknow. Later it was rerouted to run via Prayagraj. In 1997, the pantry car service was introduced.

From 1st September 2021, the train LHB Rajdhani Rakes are replaced with LHB Tejas Sleeper Rakes.

Service

It runs daily. It operates as train number 12309 from Rajendra Nagar (Patna) to New Delhi railway station and as train number 12310 in the reverse direction. It covers a distance of 1001 kilometres in each direction however it takes 12 hours 5 minutes when operating as train number 12310 at an average speed of 83 km/h (including halts) while its return journey takes 12 h 30 min at an average speed of 80  km/h (including halts) as train number 12309. Later on with the completion of the construction of the Rajendra Nagar Terminal railway station, it was terminated from Patna Junction to here.

It has 4 halts in either direction at Patna Junction, PT Deen Dayal Upadhaya Junction, Prayagraj Junction, and Kanpur Central.This is the only Rajdhani Express having ISO certification.

Time Table

Station code	Station name	Arrival	Departure
RJPB	Rajendra Nagar Terminal		19:10
PNBE	Patna Junction	19:25	19:35
DDU	Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya	22:12	22:22
PRYJ	Prayagraj Junction	00:10	00:12
CNB	Kanpur Central	02:15	02:20
NDLS	New Delhi	07:40

Traction

It is regularly hauled by a Samastipur-based WAP-7 (HOG)-equipped locomotive or Gomoh-based WAP-7 (HOG)-equipped locomotive on its entire journey.

Coach composition

Loco	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21
LOCOMOTIVE	EOG	B1	B2	B3	B4	B5	B6	B7	B8	B9	B10	B11	A1	A2	A3	A4	A5	PC	H1	H2	EOG

Speed

The maximum permissible speed of the train is up to 130 kmph except some parts. Its all coaches are of air conditioned LHB coaches type which is capable of reaching 160 kmph but it does not touch. Sometimes people become confused because according to Indian Railways Permanent Way Manual (IRPWM) on Indian Railways website or Indian Railway Institute of Civil Engineering website, the BG (Broad Gauge) lines have been classified into six groups ‘A’ to ‘E’ on the basis of the future maximum permissible speeds but it may not be same as present speed.

The maximum permissible speed is 130 kmph except two small parts – 29 km long New Delhi (NDLS) – Chipyana Buzurg (CPYZ) part where Railway is trying to raise maximum permissible sectional speed to 130 kmph from 110 kmph [1] and Neora to Rajendra Nagar Terminal where the speed is less than 130 kmph.

Railway Board has approved the speed policy which envisages operation of passenger trains at 160 kmph on Delhi–Patna route but it is still unclear what will its impact on this train in future like increasing of speed but not up to 160 kmph or up to 160 kmph. [2]