Howrah–New Delhi Rajdhani Express (via Patna)

The 12305 / 12306 Howrah–New Delhi Rajdhani Express is a Rajdhani class train belonging to Eastern Railway zone that runs between Howrah Junction and New Delhi in India via Patna Junction. It is currently being operated with 12305/12306 train numbers on a weekly basis.^{[1][2][3][4][5]} It is widely regarded as one of the most premium trains on the Indian Railway network and is given the highest priority in terms of clearance. ^[6] It is the fastest train on the Howrah-Delhi main line.

Howrah Junction – New Delhi Rajdhani Express
Howrah Rajdhani Express train board.
Overview
Service type	Rajdhani
Locale	West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh & Delhi
First service	3 July 1993; 32 years ago (1993-07-03)
Current operator(s)	Eastern Railway
Route
Termini	Howrah (HWH) New Delhi (NDLS)
Stops	9
Distance travelled	1,531 km (951 mi)
Average journey time	19 hrs 45 mins
Service frequency	Weekly [a]
Train number(s)	12305 / 12306
Line(s) used	Howrah-Bardhaman chord Bardhaman–Asansol section Asansol–Patna section Patna–Mughalsarai section Mughalsarai–Kanpur section Kanpur–Delhi line (till New Delhi)
On-board services
Class(es)	AC First, AC 2 tier, AC 3 tier
Seating arrangements	Yes
Sleeping arrangements	Yes
Catering facilities	Pantry car, On-board catering, E-catering
Observation facilities	Large windows
Entertainment facilities	On-board Wi-Fi
Baggage facilities	Available
Other facilities	Below the seats
Technical
Rolling stock	LHB coach
Track gauge	1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in)
Operating speed	130 km/h (81 mph) maximum , 79 km/h (49 mph) average including halts.
Route map Legend 12305 ↓ Howrah Junction Barddhaman Junction West Bengal Jharkhand border Madhupur Junction Jasidih Junction Jharkhand Bihar border Patna Junction Bihar Uttar Pradesh border Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Junction Prayagraj Junction Kanpur Central Uttar Pradesh Delhi border 12306 ↑ New Delhi 12305 - Howrah → New Delhi 12306 - New Delhi → Howrah

Service

The 12305/Howrah–New Delhi Rajdhani Express has an average speed of 77 km/h and covers 1,531 km in 20h 00m. The 12306/New Delhi–Howrah Rajdhani Express has an average speed of 79 km/h and covers 1,531 km in 19h 25m.

Route and halts

The important halts of the train are:

• Howrah Junction
• Barddhaman Junction
• Madhupur Junction
• Jasidih Junction
• Patna Junction
• Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Junction
• Prayagraj Junction
• Kanpur Central
• New Delhi

Coach composition

The train has standard LHB rakes with max speed of 130 kmph. The train consists of 23 coaches:

• 2 First AC
• 6 AC II Tier
• 11 AC III Tier
• 1 Pantry car
• 2 End-on Generator
• 1 High Capacity Parcel Van

Loco	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23
	EOG	B1	B2	B3	B4	B5	B6	B7	B8	B9	B10	B11	PC	H1	H2	A1	A2	A3	A4	A5	A6	EOG	HCPV

Traction

Both trains are hauled by a Howrah Loco Shed-based WAP-7 electric locomotive from Howrah to New Delhi, and vice versa.

Rake sharing

The train shares its rake with 12301/12302 Howrah Rajdhani Express (via Gaya).

See also

• Howrah railway station
• New Delhi railway station
• Howrah Rajdhani Express

Notes

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