The 20501/20502 Agartala – Anand Vihar Terminal Tejas Rajdhani Express is a flagship Rajdhani-class train operated by Indian Railways. It connects Agartala, the capital city of state of Tripura in Northeast India, to Anand Vihar Terminal in Delhi, the national capital. Notably, it is the only Rajdhani-class train originating from the eastern part of India that terminates at Anand Vihar Terminal, instead of New Delhi Railway station in Delhi.[1][2][3]

Agartala - Anand Vihar Terminal
Tejas Rajdhani Express
Overview
Service typeTejas-Rajdhani Express
First service28 October 2017; 6 years ago (2017-10-28)
Current operator(s)Northeast Frontier Railway
Route
TerminiAgartala (AGTL)
Anand Vihar Terminal (ANVT)
Stops15
Distance travelled2,423 km (1,506 mi)
Average journey time20501 (43 hrs 40 min) 20502 (43 hrs 50 min)
Service frequencyWeekly [a]
Train number(s)20501 / 20502
On-board services
Class(es)First AC, AC 2 tier, AC 3 tier
Seating arrangementsNo
Sleeping arrangementsYes
Catering facilitiesPantry car
On-board catering
E-catering
Observation facilitiesLarge windows
Baggage facilitiesBelow the seats
Technical
Rolling stockTejas rakes
Track gauge1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in)
Operating speed130 km/h (81 mph) (top speed)
59 km/h (37 mph) average including halts as 20501, 59 km/h (37 mph) average including halts as 20502

It became the first Rajdhani express to be rolled out with Tejas Express Liveried Sleeper LHB Coaches from 15 February 2021.[4]

Service Details edit

The 20501 Agartala – Anand Vihar Terminal Tejas Rajdhani Express is a weekly train departing every Monday from Agartala at 13:50 hrs and arriving at Anand Vihar Terminal in Delhi at 10:50 hrs on Wednesday. Covering a distance of 2593 km in 43 hours and 40 minutes, with an average speed of 59 km/hr.

 
Inaugural Agartala Rajdhani Express (in LHB composition) standing at Guwahati Railway Station
 
Inaugural Agartala Rajdhani Express (LHB composition) standing at Guwahati Railway Station

On its return journey as the 20502 Anand Vihar Terminal – Agartala Tejas Rajdhani Express, the train departs from Anand Vihar Terminal on Wednesday at 19:50 hrs and reaches Agartala at 15:40 hrs on Friday. Similarly, it covers the 2593 km distance in 43 hours and 50 minutes, with an average speed of 59 km/hr.

Route and halts edit

20501 / 20502 Agartala - Anand Vihar (T) Tejas Rajdhani Express
Train No 20501 Stations Train No 20502
Arrival Departure Arrival Departure
15:10 Agartala 15:40
16:24 16:26 Ambassa 14:35 14:37
17:55 17:57 Dharmanagar 13:10 13:12
19:10 19:12 New Karimganj Jn 11:55 11:57
19:50 20:00 Badarpur Jn 11:25 11:35
01:28 01:30 Hojai 05:35 05:37
03:50 04:05 Guwahati 03:20 03:35
05:03 05:05 Rangiya Jn 02:00 02:02
06:00 06:02 Barapeta Road 01:00 01:10
10:30 10:40 New Jalpaiguri Jn 20:05 20:15
15:00 15:10 Malda Town 16:25 16:35
18:25 18:30 Bhagalpur Jn 12:35 12:40
19:25 19:27 Jamalpur Jn 11:35 11:37
22:10 22:20 Patna Jn 08:00 08:10
01:25 01:35 Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyay Jn 04:42 04:52
05:30 05:35 Kanpur Central 00:35 00:40
10:50 Anand Vihar Terminal 19:50

Coach composition edit

The train has 21 LHB Coaches Of Tejas Express livery, capable of achieving a maximum speed of 130 km/h. The coach configuration is:

  • 1 First AC
  • 4 AC II Tier
  • 12 AC III Tier
  • 1 Pantry Car
  • 2 End-on Generator Car
  • 1 Luggage Van

Locomotive edit

 
The WDP-4D on inaugural run

A Siliguri/SGUJ Locomotive Shed based WDP-4/WDP-4B/WDP-4D locomotive hauls the train from Agartala to Guwahati and vice versa. From Guwahati to Anand Vihar Terminal and vice versa, the train is hauled by WAP-7 Locomotive of Ghaziabad/GZB Electric Locomotive Shed and vice versa.

Running edit

During the time of its introduction, the Agartala Rajdhani Express use to traverse via Katihar- Barauni – Patliputra route to Delhi. However, on 15 January 2024, due to commercial requirements and passenger demand, the Railway Board approved its re-routing via Malda Town – Bhagalpur – Jamalpur – Patna route, with commercial stoppages at Malda Town, Bhagalpur, Jamalpur and Patna Junction.[5]

See also edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ Runs one day in a week for every direction.

References edit

  1. ^ "Agartala Rajdhani Express inaugural run tomorrow". Bangalore Mirror. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
  2. ^ "Agartala-New Delhi Rajdhani Express Gears Up For Debut Run On Oct 28". Archived from the original on 28 October 2017. Retrieved 28 October 2017.
  3. ^ Bhattacharjee, Biswendu. "agartala rajdhani exp: Inaugural run of Agartala Rajdhani Express on Saturday | Agartala News". The Times of India. TNN.
  4. ^ "Watch | Agartala Rajdhani Express with new Tejas sleeper coaches rolled out". The Hindu. 16 February 2021. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
  5. ^ "FULFILMENT OF LONG CHERISHED DEMAND: AGARTALA – ANAND VIHAR TEJAS RAJDHANI EXPRESS NOW STOPS AT MALDA TOWN". pib.gov.in. Retrieved 19 April 2024.

External links edit

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=THGHwYqHXmY