Rajendra Nagar-New Delhi Tejas Rajdhani Express

The 12309 / 12310 Rajendra Nagar Terminal (Patna)-New Delhi Tejas Rajdhani Express is a Tejas Rajdhani class train of Indian Railways, that connects the state capital of Bihar, Patna to the national capital of India, Delhi.

Rajendra Nagar Terminal (Patna) - New Delhi Tejas Rajdhani Express
Rajendra Nagar-New Delhi Tejas Rajdhani Express at Patna Junction
Overview
Service type	Tejas Rajdhani Express
Locale	Bihar, Uttar Pradesh & Delhi
First service	1 September 1996; 28 years ago (1996-09-01)
Current operator(s)	East Central Railway
Route
Termini	Rajendra Nagar Terminal (RJPB) New Delhi (NDLS)
Stops	4
Distance travelled	1,001 km (622 mi)
Average journey time	11 hours 30 minutes
Service frequency	Daily
Train number(s)	12309 / 12310
Line(s) used	Asansol–Patna (from Rajendra Nagar Terminal.) Patna–Mughalsarai section Mughalsarai–Kanpur section Kanpur–Delhi line (till New Delhi)
On-board services
Class(es)	AC First Class, AC 2 Tier, AC 3 Tier
Seating arrangements	Yes
Sleeping arrangements	Yes
Catering facilities	Available
Observation facilities	Large windows
Entertainment facilities	Wi-Fi
Baggage facilities	Available
Other facilities	Below the seats
Technical
Rolling stock	Tejas rakes
Track gauge	1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in)
Operating speed	130 km/h (81 mph) maximum, 87 km/h (54 mph) average including halts.
Route map Legend 12309 ↓ Rajendra Nagar Terminal Patna Junction Bihar Uttar Pradesh border Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Junction Prayagraj Junction Kanpur Central Uttar Pradesh Delhi 12310 ↑ New Delhi 12309 - Rajendra Nagar Terminal → New Delhi 12310 - New Delhi → Rajendra Nagar Terminal

History

This Train was originally introduced in the Annual Railway Budget of 1996–97 as a daily Rajdhani Express from New Delhi to Patna via Lucknow. Later it was rerouted to run via Prayagraj. In 1997, the pantry car service was introduced.^[1]

In 2009, it was certified as the only ISO-Certified Rajdhani Express of Indian Railways till now.

On 1 September 2021, the train's LHB Rajdhani Rakes were replaced with LHB Tejas Sleeper Rakes.^[2]

Service

It runs daily. It operates as train number 12309 from Rajendra Nagar (Patna) to New Delhi railway station and as train number 12310 in the reverse direction. It covers a distance of 1001 km in each direction, however it takes 12 hours 5 minutes when operating as train number 12310 at an average speed of 83 km/h (including halts). While on its return journey, the train takes 12 h 30 min at an average speed of 80 km/h (including halts) as train number 12309.

It is the Fastest train of India to cover 1001 Km in just 11 hours and 30 min and the only Rajdhani Express to have an Iso-Certification.

Initially, the train used to operate between Patna Junction and New Delhi. However, with an increase in passenger pressure over Patna Junction, Indian Railways decided to construct a new satellite station to Patna Junction, in order to accommodate the growing passenger pressure. Later on with the completion of the construction of the Rajendra Nagar Terminal railway station, the Rajdhani Express was terminated from Patna Junction to here.

Patna Rajdhani Express in its LHB avatar.

It has 4 halts in either direction at Patna Junction, PT Deen Dayal Upadhaya Junction, Prayagraj Junction, and Kanpur Central. This is the only Rajdhani Express that has ISO certification.

Coach composition

Loco	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22
	EOG	BE1	B1	B2	B3	B4	B5	B6	B7	B8	B9	B10	B11	A1	A2	A3	A4	A5	PC	H1	H2	EOG

Traction

It is regularly hauled by a Gomoh Loco Shed or Samastipur Loco Shed-based WAP-7 electric locomotive on its entire journey.