The First Run of Sealdah Duronto Express

New Delhi | 19 Sep 09

I have been looking forward to this moment. Being a staunch Rajdhani Express fan (have been traveling since 1979 on Howrah Raj), I wanted to see first hand how different the Sealdah-New Delhi Duronto Express will be.

The first Duronto Express was flagged off by Smt. Mamata Banerjee (Honorable Railway Minister) from Sealdah Station (Kolkata) at 1700 pm on September 18, 2009. The 2259 Sealdah Duronto is India's first point-to-point non-stop train and has been created to cover the distance of 1454km from Sealdah to New Delhi in 16h 20min. The Sealdah Rajdhani takes 17h 55min with 6 halts.

Well! I was hugely disappointed. The SDAH Duronto arrived at Pragati Maidan at 0945 am. The right time for reaching NDLS (New Delhi Railway Station) was 0920 am. But more than that it was the color and graffiti/painting on the rakes that was far more disappointing.

In fact, if Mamata Di and the "big-wigs" of Indian Railway could launch the fastest train in India then they should have considered the visual impact of the rakes. The green is similar to that of Garib Rath, a trifle bit lighter and the entire floral design is way out of place. IR could have either chosen a more formal look and appeal for enhancing the image of the train OR they could have added more value by having separate paintings on each of the rakes. Paintings depicting different faces of Bengal like Howrah Bridge, Dakhineshwar Temple, Ma Durga, Eden Gardens and much more. That would have at least symbolized the "Cultural Spirit of Bengal"

But I would still say that the effort was valiant keeping in mind the fact that Mamata Di had very little time to get this train up and running. Her concept of "Ma, Mati, Manush" is the theme of the abstract graffiti on Sealdah Duronto. Maybe, the later versions of the Sealdah Duronto will have graffiti that people can relate to with ease.

Secondly, the rakes are quite old. In fact some of the coaches are almost 10 years old (1999). Seems like the rakes are a mix of Garib Rath and ICF Rajdhani coaches. At first instant the rake didn't look Hybrid to me but the next time around I will have a closer look.

The SMB (Side Middle Berth) has been used in the 3AC Economy and hence the lower fares. The SMB is not a great idea because it means less space.

Overall Picture - Not Impressive!

A Fare comparison with Sealdah Rajdhani

Duranto Sealdah Raj Difference
1AC 3295 3395 Rs. 100
2AC 1880 2030 Rs. 150
3AC 1390 1535 Rs. 145
3AC Eco 1335 NA

The Sealdah Rajdhani Express Runs daily while the Duronto will run on Thursday and Sunday from Sealdah (2259) and Friday and Monday from New Delhi (2260).

The rake composition of the 2259 Duronto Express as seen today was: EOG | 3AC Eco | 3AC | PC | 2 AC | 1 AC | EOG

The Sealdah Duronto Express timings are:

2259 - DEP/SDAH: 1640 PM ARR/NDLS: 1035 AM
2260 - DEP/NDLS: 2005 PM ARR/SDAH: 1100 AM

Except for a technical snag in the loco GZB WAP-7 30249 (fairly new loco), I believe the run was smooth. The P7 30249 started off from SDAH with its front Panto up but was spotted at Pragati Maidan with its rear Panto up. Hopefully, the snag has been taken care off.

Look forward to the Chennai Duronto at NZM (Nizamuddin) on Tuesday with LHB rake!

Some of the other trains/Loco that I saw today include:

GZB WAP-7 #30248 - Mumbai Rajdhani (On Time)
BSL WAM-4 #21388 - Unknown Train
UDL WDG-3A #13379 - AC Special
LGD WAP-4 #22777 - AP Express (On Time)
SGUJ WDP-4 #20003 - Kashi Vishwanath Exp
GZB WAP-7 #30249 - Duronto Express (30 min Late)
GMO WAP-7 #30203 - Howrah Rajdhani (10 min late)
HWH WAP-4 #22331 - Sealdah Rajdhani (Before Time)

Parthajit Dasgupta

Kolkata by Sealdah Rajdhani Express - Part II

May 06, 2009

When I woke up in the morning, we were entering Dhanbad Jn. The right time was 06:26am and we entered at 06:53 am, so we were again 30-minute behind schedule. I took some pics of the train at Dhanbad - an irresistible urge! As we left Dhanbad, I spotted some GMO WAP-7 and WAM-4. One WAP-7 was 30201 and the other was 30202. Both had original ABB logo on them. So these are the imported WAP-7's. Lucky me!



I spotted two WAM-4 #21325 and 20662.



I got my coffee and then I went for my usual morning ablutions. No! I just brushed my teeth because the toilets were stinking. Imagine! Stinking toilets in Rajdhani Express - the premier train of India. Are we sending the right message to foreign tourists?

We reached Asansol at 07:40am still running late. I took some pictures of Mr. P.Chakraborty (air conditioning incharge - B10) who had been quite helpful.



I was looking out of the other door of my coach when I spotted an AJNI WAG-9 #31090. Before I could take a picture, a RPF guy came and banged the door on my face. I understand the security reasons but why can't the cops in India be a little more polite and sensitive. I avoided a confrontation and went back to my berth. As we neared Durgapur, I saw WAG-7 #27041 and WAG-5 #24442 (a Palindrome loco).



We reached Durgapur at 08:15am (right time is 07:48am). Sniffer dogs boarded the Rajdhani here (beautiful yellow labs) and went from one coach to another. I then walked down with my sister to check out the Buffet car and went ahead to the First Class and then to the guard cabin.



We passed Bardhhaman Jn at 08:55am. I saw shared rakes with the 3017/3018 Ganadevta Express rakes being shared by 2821/2822 Dhauli Express. There was no much action at BWN except for EMU's going in and out. I saw the BWN-Hatia passenger with HWH WAP-4 #22772. There was a shunter parked close to the station - BWN #17365. After BWN, I got my breakfast of two breads, butter, Jam, Omlette without any salt, half-boiled carrots. This food was outrageously bad! I was hungry and so I had it.

Then I went and parked myself at the door but there were no action. I was waiting for the train to enter the Vivekanada Setu (after Bali Ghat Station) so that I could take a video and thankfully I was able to.



By the time, my coach was in the center of the bridge, the train picked speed and I had to move away from the door. The Sealdah Rajdhani was stopped at Dum Dum Outer where I saw a lone EMU and WAG-9 #31083.



Soon after, we crossed Narkeldanga Electric Trip shed on the outskirts of Sealdah where I saw a HWH WAP-4 #22509. Meanwhile, our WAP-7 had made up for the 30-minute delay and we entered Sealdah 5-minutes late at 10:20am. The moment I got off, I headed straight for the loco but the LP had unfortunately left by then. Somewhere on the way, our loco had hit a bird, which was stuck on the grills of the windshield - dead!!


The bird hit loco - WAP-7 #30236

I stepped out of the station and was greeted by a severely hot and humid weather. Kolkata - here I come!

Kolkata By Sealdah Rajdhani Express - Part I

May 05, 2009

What a day! I couldn't sleep the whole night and the morning started off with me running around to get clothes pressed, keep veggies at the neighbors house etc and suddenly it was 1500pm. Time to start for NDLS. All packed and ready, we boarded a taxi and reached NDLS at 1554pm. I had not seen the Ajmeri Gate entrance in a long while and hence, I was surprised not to find any crowd at the gates. Then I realized that they had moved the ticket counters and the Digital departure and arrival boards upstairs. Climbed up the stairs and checked the departure of the 2314 Sealdah Rajdhani. This time around I couldn't find berths in 2AC so I had to be content traveling by 3AC.

There was an announcement and the Sealdah Rajdhani was shifted from Platform 12 to Platform 13. 13? I wondered if my lucky number was ever going to bring me any luck. I reached the platform and didn't have to wait too long as a newly painted GZB WAP-7 #30236 glided smoothly bringing in the LHB rakes of the Rajdhani Express.



LHB (Linke Hofmann Bosch) rakes were first introduced in the Indian Railways on February 03, 2006 and the Sealdah Rajdhani got its LHB rakes on March 01, 2003. The LHB rakes are now being built at Rail Coach Factory, Kapurthala and are the fruits of the collaboration between Indian Railways and ALSTOM-LHB GmbH, Germany. Today, LHB rakes are being predominantly used in Rajdhani and Shatabdi although the 4645 Shalimar Express also s them. The Shalimar Express runs from NDLS (New Delhi) to JAT (Jammu Tawi).

Back to my journey, I had 4 berths in B10, which was the 7th from the loco. I thought maybe, I might get to catch the Raj at some of the curves.



While waiting for the Rajdhani Express to start moving, I came across a dirty CNB WAP-4 #22235, which brought in the rakes of 2560 Shiv Ganga Express to Varanasi.



Finally, the signal went from red to green and we started of at 1630pm, bang on time but then the inevitable happenned. Everytime, I travel by Sealdah Rajdhani, there is a chain pulling incident. So between NDLS and Shivaji Bridge, the chain was pulled twice because someone's luggage had fallen off. While we were waiting for confirmation and clearance at Shivaji Bridge, I started a conversation with Mr. P. Chakraborty, who was the Air-conditioning engineer of our coach. I had met him the last time around as well in January 2009. He told me that one of the guys traveling in our coach had given his ticket to the coolie by mistake. It's wierd but I guess shit really happens!

I took a couple of snaps of the LHB rakes of the sealdah Rajdhani express. A LDH (Ludhiana) WDM-3C #16879 passed us by. It was running light and didn't have the number written on the side of the loco like most WDM's have. It went a little ahead and stopped as the LP (Loco Pilot) exchanged pleasantries and information with the LP of TKD (Tughlakabad) WDP-3a #15513. (Another "13"). The WDP was bringing in another LDH WDM #16884. Once it started from Shivaji Bridge, it was already running 30 minutes late.


The WAP-7 picked up speed and I opened the door of my coach to wave out to Mr. Vishvanathan who was waiting patiently for me at Anand Vihar. We whizzed passed and slowed down on reaching the Sahibabad curve. This is where I saw GZB WAP-1 #22036 rush past with an unknown train. By the time, I took out my camera, the loco had dissappeared with the train. Well! It was good to see a WAP-1 because that is my favorite loco apart from WDP-4. We reached GZB at 17:28pm and I saw a couple of WAG-7, WAG-5, and WAG-9 pulling coal rakes. Saw a LGD (Lallaguda) WAG-9 #31135 and GMO (Gomoh) WAP-7 #30203 at the Aligarh Jn.

One of the surprising points of this journey was that we were not offered any Frooti, juice, cadbury, and Sonpapdi. On top of that, the hot water for tea barely filled half a cup. That is some cost cutting Mr. Laloo Prasad Yadav - No wonder you lost!!We reached Tundla Jn at 19:20pm and I saw one of my favorite loco's: a WAG-7 in a WAP-4 shell and this one was #28000. Yipee!! The 5708 Amrapali Express (Amritsar to Katihar) was waiting for a green signal and it was being hauled by CNB WAP-4 #22227. The moment we crossed Tundla Jn, I came across another WAG-7 and this time the number was 28009.

We reached Kanpur (CNB) at 21:20pm, bang on time. So the Wap-7 had actually covered up for a 15-minute delay. We were served dinner. My sister had ordered continental, while I had opted for a non-veg meal. The continental was far better although the quantity of noodles was barely fulfilling. My meal wasn't great either because the parantha was cold and the chicken curry tasted stale. Seems like the Sealdah Rajdhani food has taken a real beating. In fact, the food was being made by a private caterer called: meals on wheels!





























The moment we left Kanpur, the inevitable happened again - chain pulling!!!! When will travelers learn! Someone was supposed to get down at Kanpur and had slept off. Good lord! The train picked up speed after Kanpur and after having a strange mix of vanilla and strawberry ice-cream, I just dozed off. I was on the top berth and the airconditioning was quite comforting.

The only uncomfortable part was the constant jerk. When the loco braked, there was a huge jerk and when the loco pulled, there was a major jerk. Mr. Chakraborty told me that since LHB coaches don't have buffers hence this problem. But then when I went to Kolkata in January with a WAP-4 pulling the Rajdhani, there were no jerks. Will need to ask some railway engineers or maybe loco pilots. Another uncomfortable aspect of the LHB coaches is the stairs for climbing up. My father fell down once and I also had a problem because there was nothing to hold on to if you are climbing face forward towards the upper berth.

Hope the engineers in Patiala are listening!