Taj Express
Overview | |||||
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First service |
1964 between New Delhi & Agra | ||||
Route | |||||
Start | Hazrat Nizamuddin Railway Station | ||||
Stops | 9 | ||||
End | Jhansi Junction | ||||
Distance travelled | 403 km (250 mi) | ||||
Average journey time | 6 hours 50 minutes | ||||
Service frequency | Daily | ||||
Train number(s) | 12279 / 12280 | ||||
On-board services | |||||
Class(es) | AC Chair Car, 2nd Class sitting | ||||
Technical | |||||
Track gauge | 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) | ||||
Operating speed | 58 km/h (36 mph) average with halts | ||||
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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 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 1986. The train was later extended up to Gwalior, then to Jhansi in 2006.
History
- In 1964 Taj Express was introduced from 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.
- 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.
- 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 Coaches.
Route
The train numbered 12279 goes from Jhansi Junction to Nizamuddin Railway Station, and train number is 12280 goes from Nizamuddin Railway Station to Jhansi
- Nizamuddin, Delhi
- Faridabad
- Mathura
- Raja ki Mandi, Agra
- Agra Cantt, Agra
- Dhaulpur
- Morena
- Gwalior Junction
- Dabra
- Datia
- Jhansi
As the whole route is electrified the train is generally hauled by WAP 7 from Tughlaqabad for its whole journey. But occasionally it is also hauled by WAP 5 from Ghaziabad
See also
- List of named passenger trains of India
- Bhopal Shatabdi
- Bhopal Express
- Indian Railways - Travel Coach types and their seating / berths
External links
- http://www.irfca.org/faq/faq-history5.html
- http://www.nr.indianrail.gov.in/scripts/static/RecentReleasesDisplay_h.aspx?id=1389
- History of Taj Express