Dibrugarh Rajdhani Express

Summary

Dibrugarh Rajdhani Express is one of the premier train in the exclusive fleet of Rajdhani Expresses of Indian Railways. It connects New Delhi in Delhi and Dibrugarh in Assam.

Dibrugarh Rajdhani Express
Dibrugarh Rajdhani Express entering Katihar Junction.
Overview
Service typeRajdhani Express
LocaleAssam, Nagaland, West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh & Delhi
Current operator(s)Northern Railway &
Northeast Frontier Railway
Route
TerminiDibrugarh (DBRG)
New Delhi (NDLS)
Stops21 as 12423 / 12424,
24 as 20503 / 20504,
24 as 20505 / 20506
Distance travelled2,276 kilometres (1,414 mi) (via Barauni Junction)
2,452 kilometres (1,524 mi) (via Moranhat)
2,458 kilometres (1,527 mi) (via Rangapara North Junction)
Average journey time37 hrs (Approx.)
Service frequencyDaily
Train number(s)12423 / 12424
20503 / 20504
20505 / 20506
On-board services
Class(es)AC 1st Class, AC 2 Tier, AC 3 Tier
Seating arrangementsYes
Sleeping arrangementsYes
Auto-rack arrangementsAvailable
Catering facilitiesAvailable
Observation facilitiesLarge windows
Baggage facilitiesAvailable
Other facilitiesBelow the seats
Technical
Rolling stockLHB coach
Track gauge1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in)
Operating speed56 km/h (35 mph) average including halts
Route map

History edit

  • The first version of this train was inaugurated on 26 October 1996 as Guwahati Rajdhani Express which ran via Barauni. It was flagged off by Ram Vilas Paswan (former Minister of Railways) which runs as a weekly service.[1] The frequency was later increased to tri-weekly in 1997.[2]
  • Later, on 11 January 1999, the Second set of Guwahati Rajdhani Express was inaugurated which runs through Chhapra. It was flagged off by Nitish Kumar (former Minister of Railways) which runs as a bi-weekly service.
  • After that, on 24 March 2010, the third set of Guwahati Rajdhani Express was inaugurated which runs through Muzaffarpur. It was flagged off by Mamata Banerjee (former Minister of Railways) which runs as a weekly service.[3]
  • Later due to public demand in 2012, The three sets of Rajdhani was extended up to Dibrugarh and runs as Dibrugarh Rajdhani Express and also the frequency of First Set was increased to daily service.[4][5]
  • February 2021: 20503/04 Dibrugarh Rajdhani frequency increased to 5 days a week from Weekly.[6]

Route & halts edit

Traction edit

All set of Dibrugarh Rajdhani Express (except for the third set of Dibrugarh Rajdhani Express numbered 20505/20506) are hauled by a Diesel Loco Shed, Siliguri-based WDP-4 / WDP-4B / WDP-4D diesel locomotive from Dibrugarh to Guwahati, after Guwahati it is hauled by an Electric Loco Shed, Ghaziabad-based WAP-7 electric locomotive until New Delhi and vice versa. In case of 20505/20506, the WAP-7 hauls the train from New Delhi to Rangiya and vice versa and the Diesel Loco Shed, Siliguri-based WDP-4 / WDP-4B / WDP-4D diesel locomotive takes over for its journey from Rangiya to Dibrugarh and vice versa.

Derailment edit

On 25 June 2014, this train derailed in Chhapra, Bihar, killing four people and seriously injuring eight.[7] Sabotage by Naxalites was considered but ruled out as the cause of the crash.[8] Also, on 6 December 2016 derailed in Allipurduar district of west Bengal.

Gallery edit

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Rail Budget 1994-95, Retrieved 25 May 2016
  2. ^ Rail Budget 1995-96, Retrieved 25 May 2016
  3. ^ Rail Budget 2009-10, Retrieved 25 May 2016
  4. ^ Rail Budget 2010-11, Retrieved 25 May 2019
  5. ^ Rail Budget 2005-06, Retrieved 25 May 2016
  6. ^ Twitter https://twitter.com/railnf/status/1356828678798237698. Retrieved 3 September 2021. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  7. ^ Das, Mala (25 June 2014). "New Delhi–Dibrugarh Rajdhani Express Derails in Bihar, Four Killed". NDTV. Retrieved 5 August 2015.
  8. ^ "Delhi–Dibrugarh Rajdhani Express derailment: Bihar CM rules out Maoist role". India Today. 25 June 2014. Retrieved 5 August 2015.