Mumbai CSMT–Hazrat Nizamuddin Rajdhani Express

Rajdhani class train in India

Legend

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus

Kalyan - Jalgaon

Kalyan Junction

Nasik Road

Jalgaon Junction

Maharashtra

Madhya Pradesh

border

Bhopal Junction

Virangana Lakshmibai Jhansi Jn

Gwalior - Agra Cantonment

Gwalior Junction

Madhya Pradesh

Uttar Pradesh

border

Agra Cantonment

Uttar Pradesh

New Delhi

border

Hazrat Nizamuddin

					22221 - Mumbai CSMT → Hazrat Nizamuddin
					22222 - Hazrat Nizamuddin → Mumbai CSMT

Mumbai CSMT–Hazrat Nizamuddin Rajdhani Express, with train numbers 22221 and 22222 (also known as Central Railway (CR) Rajdhani Express and Push Pull Rajdhani) is a daily train service of Rajdhani class operated by Central Railway between Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus and Hazrat Nizamuddin.

History

Proposal for a new Rajdhani service from inner Maharashtra was in demand for some time, especially since Mumbai Rajdhani and August Kranti Rajdhani serve only the Mumbai area. This demand was further put down by the MP of Nashik Hemant Godse, after which an in-principle approval from the Railway Minister Piyush Goyal was given in December 2018.^[1]

The challenge to running a Rajdhani service on this route was the Thull Ghat between Kasara and Igatpuri, for which every train would stop at both stations for banker attachment and detachment, an arrangement that wasted a significant amount of time and which remained a barrier for a long time. Trials were conducted by RDSO and Central Railway of using two WAP-7 locomotives with a 20 LHB car rake in a push-pull arrangement.^[2] Several changes were made to accomodate the Rajdhani service, including changing the timings of several express and suburban trains and train crew being trained to work till Jalgaon, instead of Igatpuri. Even before the launch, seats for the first service were fully booked in 5 hours.^[3]

The Rajdhani service was launched on 19 January 2019 as a bi-weekly service, with much fanfare at Mumbai CSMT, Nashik Road and Jalgaon Junction. Service was increased from bi-weekly to 4 days a week, citing the popularity of the service.

On 19 January 2021, on its 2nd running anniversary, Central Railway and Indian Railways increased 22221/22222 Rajdhani frequency from 4 days a week to daily basis.^[4]

Timings

22221 Rajdhani leaves Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus at 16:00 daily and arrives Hazrat Nizamuddin at 09:55 every second day.

22222 Rajdhani leaves Hazrat Nizamuddin at 16:55 daily and arrives Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus at 11:15 every second day.

CR Rajdhani Express runs with an average speed of 86 km/h.^[5]^[6]

Coach composition

CR Rajdhani Express runs with LHB rolling stock composition as below:

12 AC Three Tier (3A)
5 AC Two Tier (2A)
1 AC First Class (1A)
1 Pantry car (PC)
2 Luggage Brake & Generator car (EOG)

Loco	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	Loco
	EOG	B12	B11	B10	B9	B8	B7	B6	B5	B4	B3	B2	B1	PC	H1	A1	A2	A3	A4	A5	EOG

CR Rajdhani Express is run using three LHB Rakes and the rakes are maintained at Wadi Bunder coaching depot, located besides Sandhurst Road railway station.

Traction

It is hauled by two Kalyan Loco Shed-based head on generation equipped WAP-7 locomotives in a push-pull configuration. This configuration eliminated technical halts at Kasara and Igatpuri for banker attachment and detachment, becoming the first train to do so in the process.^{[citation needed]}

Route & halts

References

^ "Mumbai will soon get its third Rajdhani".
^ "COMPENDIUM ON PUSH PULL OPERATION OF WAP5/WAP7 LOCOMOTIVES OVER INDIAN RAILWAYS" (PDF).
^ "Bi-weekly Mumbai-Delhi Rajdhani: All seats booked in 5 hours". The Indian Express. 19 January 2019. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
^ Vidit vaswani (13 January 2021). "Mumbai-Delhi Rajdhani Express to run daily from January 19 | Mumbai News - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
^ "Dibrugadh-Delhi–Mumbai new Rajdhani: Hazrat Nizamuddin–Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus Rajdhani Express features may surprise you". Zee Business. 19 January 2019. Retrieved 12 March 2019.
^ "New Rajdhani Express on Delhi–Mumbai route via MP to be launched soon". Times of India. Retrieved 22 May 2019.