Service type Rajdhani Express First service 1 January 1998 | Status Operating Current operator(s) Western Railways | |
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Locale Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana & Delhi Start Ahmedabad Junction (ADI) | ||
Swarna Jayanti Rajdhani (Train No. 12957/12958) is a Rajdhani Express train on the Indian Railways broad gauge track network, connecting Ahmedabad (code: ADI) and New Delhi (code: NDLS), a distance of approximately 940 km. The train was one of the last Rajdhani Express trains to be introduced in the 20th century, making its inaugural run in 1997 after the estwhile metre gauge lines between Ahmedabad and Delhi through Gujarat, Rajasthan and Haryana were converted to broad gauge. Since it was introduced in the 50th year of India's independence, it was named 'Swarna Jayanti' (golden jubilee) Rajdhani Express.
Contents
Schedule and route
As of 1 March 2013, the Swarna Jayanti Rajdhani Express runs daily using the Jaipur–Ahmedabad line. 12957 departs ADI at 17:40 and arrives at NDLS at 07:30 the next day. 12958 departs NDLS at 19:55 and arrives at ADI at 09:40 the next day, averaging approximately 68 km/h on both runs. In this sector, it is the fastest train between Ahmedabad and New Delhi. During its journey, the train passes through the Indian states of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana and Delhi. Some cities where the Swarna Jayanti Rajdhani halts en route are Mahesana, Palanpur, Abu Road, Ajmer, Jaipur Gurgaon and Delhi Cantt.. Almost the entire route of the train is on non-electrified track and over 80% of the journey is on a single line section of Indian Railways.
Rake and locomotive
The Swarna Jayanti Rajdhani has approximately 11 to 15 cars and is hauled by a single diesel locomotive, usually an Indian locomotive class WDM-2 or a WDM-3D, homed at Vatva (Code: VTA) Loco shed. As of 2009, on some runs, the train has also been hauled by a WDP4 locomotive belonging to Bhagat Ki Kothi (near Jodhpur) loco shed. In April 2012, the train got the Alstom LHB rakes of the red/silver livery.
Other details
The train's rake is split into three classes of travel, AC 1st class (code: H/1A), AC 2 Tier (code: A/2A) and AC 3 Tier (code:B/3A). Usually, the train has one H/1A coach, four A/2A coaches and four to eight B/3A coaches. The train also has one or two End-On-Generation cars at either end. This train is popular with passengers and made a daily train in 2009. Previously, it used to run 5 days a week. As a Rajdhani Express, it is a superfast train and gets the highest priority on its journey between Ahmedabad and New Delhi.