Mumbai CSMT–Hazrat Nizamuddin Rajdhani Express

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.

Mumbai CSMT-Hazrat Nizamuddin Rajdhani Express
Overview
Service type	Rajdhani Express
Locale	Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana & Delhi
First service	19 January 2019; 5 years ago (2019-01-19)
Current operator(s)	Central Railways
Route
Termini	Mumbai CSMT (CSMT) Hazrat Nizamuddin (NZM)
Stops	7
Distance travelled	1,537 km (955 mi)
Average journey time	17 hrs 55 mins as 22221, 18 hrs 20 mins as 22222
Service frequency	Daily
Train number(s)	22221 / 22222
Line(s) used	Mumbai–Prayagraj–Howrah line (till Itarsi Jn.) Itarsi–Bhopal Bhopal–Agra section Agra–New Delhi (till Hazrat Nizamuddin)
On-board services
Class(es)	AC First Class, AC Two Tier, AC Three Tier
Seating arrangements	Yes
Sleeping arrangements	Yes
Catering facilities	Available
Observation facilities	Large windows
Other facilities	Luggage below the seats
Technical
Rolling stock	LHB coach
Track gauge	1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in)
Electrification	Yes
Operating speed	130 km/h (81 mph) maximum speed, 86 km/h (53 mph) average including halts.
Route map 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

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 accommodate 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

• Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus
• Kalyan Junction
• Nashik Road
• Jalgaon Junction
• Bhusaval Junction
• Bhopal Junction
• Jhansi Junction
• Gwalior Junction
• Agra Cantt
• Hazrat Nizamuddin

References

1. "Mumbai will soon get its third Rajdhani".
2. "COMPENDIUM ON PUSH PULL OPERATION OF WAP5/WAP7 LOCOMOTIVES OVER INDIAN RAILWAYS" (PDF).
3. "Bi-weekly Mumbai-Delhi Rajdhani: All seats booked in 5 hours". The Indian Express. 19 January 2019. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
4. 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.
5. "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.
6. "New Rajdhani Express on Delhi–Mumbai route via MP to be launched soon". Times of India. Retrieved 22 May 2019.

External links

• 22221 Rajdhani India Rail Info
• 22222 Rajdhani India Rail Info