Chennai Rajdhani Express

*Chennai Rajdhani Express*
	Chennai Rajdhani Express trainboard
Overview
Service type	Rajdhani Express
Locale	Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh Rajasthan Haryana & Delhi
First service	1996-97 (probably) but present Thiruvananthapuram Rajdhani Express used to terminated at Madras (Chennai) Central and presently avoids Chennai and it is older than the current Chennai Rajdhani Express and Thiruvananthapuram Rajdhani Express was intrduced in 1993; 29 years ago
Current operator(s)	Northern Railways
Route
Start	Chennai Central (MAS)
Stops	8
End	Hazrat Nizamuddin (NZM)
Distance travelled	2,175 km (1,351 mi)
Average journey time	28 hours 15 minutes
Service frequency	Bi-weekly
Train number(s)	12433 / 12434
On-board services
Class(es)	AC First Class, AC Two Tier, AC Three Tier
Seating arrangements	Yes
Sleeping arrangements	Yes
Catering facilities	Yes
Observation facilities	Large windows
Entertainment facilities	Yes
Technical
Rolling stock	LHB coaches
Track gauge	1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in)
Operating speed	79 km/h (49 mph) average with halts, 130 kmph (max. permissible, lower in some parts)
Rake sharing	Thiruvananthapuram Rajdhani Express; Secunderabad Rajdhani Express; Madgaon Rajdhani Express;
Route map
Route map

The 12433 / 12434 Chennai Central - Hazrat Nizamuddin Rajdhani Express is an important train connecting Chennai & New Delhi. According to 1997-98 railway budget, pantry car service was introduced on 2633/2634 (number of that time) Hazrat Nizamuddin-Chennai Rajdhani Express in 1996-97 and maybe the was introduced then (1996-97) [1]. Thiruvananthapuram Rajdhani Express used to terminated at Madras (Chennai) Central and presently avoids Chennai and it is older than the current Chennai Rajdhani Express and this Thiruvananthapuram Rajdhani Express was first introduced in 1993 and runs twice a week from Delhi and twice from Chennai. The Chennai Rajdhani is a fast alternative to the classic Grand Trunk Express and the modern Superfast Tamil Nadu Express. The Chennai Rajdhani Express covers a distance of 2176 kilometers in 28 hours 10 minutes as compared to 33 hours and 5 min covered by Tamil Nadu Express and 35 hours and 15 minutes taken by Grand Trunk Express.^[1] It gets WAP4 from SCR's Vijaywada electric shed. It shares the record of being the second fastest train between Chennai Central and Hazrat Nizamuddin covering the distance of 2175 km in 28 hours and 10 minutes as Chennai Duronto covering the 2174 km journey in 27 hours and 55 minutes but in return it does not happen.

Train[]

The train get highest priority on the Indian railway network and is fully air-conditioned. Passengers are provided with complimentary meals during the journey. Depending on the timings of the train, lunch, high tea, dinner, morning tea, and breakfast are served. The trains offer three classes of accommodation; First Class AC with 2 or 4 berth lockable bedrooms, AC 2-tier with open system berths (bays of 4 berths + 2 berths on the side) but provided with curtains for privacy, AC 3-tier (bays of 6 berths + 2 berths on the side) without curtains.

Passengers travelling on the First AC class in this train are treated with luxury. They get their own private cabin, music stereos, scent emitters and a four-course dinner.

The Chennai Rajdhani Express runs at an average speed of 77.24 km/h,^[2]^[3]. This train now runs with the new LHB rakes, which were introduced in 2012.

Traction[]

It is hauled by a Royapuram / Lallaguda based WAP-7 locomotive from end to end.

Route & Halts[]

Coach composition[]

This train has 9 AC Three tier,5 AC Two Tier,1 AC First Class,1 pantry car & 2 luggage cum generator coaches taking the total to 18 LHB coaches. It shares its rake with Thiruvananthapuram Rajdhani Express and Secunderabad Rajdhani Express and Madgaon Rajdhani Express

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

Timetable[]

The 12433 Rajdhani Express leaves Chennai Central in the morning of Friday and Sunday at 06:10 and reaches Hazrat Nizamuddin at 10:25 in the morning of the next day.^[2] On the return journey, the 12434 Chennai Rajdhani leaves Hazrat Nizamuddin at 15:55 PM on Wednesday and Friday and reaches Chennai Central at 20:45 in the evening of the next day.^[3]

Speed[]

The maximum permissible speed is upto 130 kmph but it is lower in some parts. Its all coaches are of air conditioned LHB coaches type which is capable of reaching 160 kmph but it does not touch. Sometimes people become confused because according to Indian Railways Permanent Way Manual (IRPWM) on its website or Indian Railway Institute of Civil Engineering website, the BG (Broad Gauge) lines have been classified into six groups ‘A’ to ‘E’ on the basis of the future maximum permissible speeds but it may not be same as present speed.

The maximum permissible speed of the train or the route is 120 kmph between H. Nizamuddin and Tuglakabad where RDSO has been requested to corroborate the track quality fit for raising sectional speed to 130 kmph. The maximum permissible speed of the train is 130 kmph in Tuglakabad (TKD) – Palwal (PWL) – Mathura (MTJ) route where it is slower than the fastest train of the route having speed of 160 kmph. After leaving the common route towards Mumbai, maximum permissible speed of the train is 130 kmph in Mathura (MTJ) – Agra Cantt (AGC) route where it is slower than the fastest train of the route having speed of 160 kmph. The maximum permissible speed of the train or the route is 130 kmph in Agra Cantt (AGC) – DHO - Jhansi - Lalitpur (LAR) route but increasing of speed of H. Nizamuddin - Jhansi Gatimaan Express upto 160 kmph is planned between Agra Cantt and Jhansi and the proposed speed is higher than this Chennai Rajdhani Express train. The maximum permissible speed of the train or the route is 120 kmph in Lalitpur (LAR) – Bina - Jujharpur (JHP) (Near Itarsi) route where proposal for raising of speed upto 130 kmph is under preparation. The maximum permissible speed of the train or the route is 120 kmph between Jujharpur (JHP) and Balharshah (BPQ) except Dharakhoh - Maramijhiri, Chichonda - Teegaon hilly areas. The maximum permissible speed of the train or the route will be increased to 130 kmph very soon or it might have been already increased in Ballarshah (BPQ) – Kazipet (KZJ) – Gudur (GDR) route. The maximum permissible speed of the train or the route is 110 in Gudur (GDR) - Basin bridge - Chennai Central (MAS) (fast lines between Basin Bridge and Chennai Central are taken) route but 130 kmph is the proposed speed for future. [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]