The high-speed evolution of India's premier 'Capital Express' rail service

Countries & Cities · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: In 1969, India launched a train designed to bridge the gap between the nation's major hubs. The Rajdhani Express, meaning 'Capital' in Sanskrit, was engineered to prioritize speed and comfort, transforming long-distance travel into a premium experience that remains a cornerstone of Indian infrastructure today.

The Rajdhani Express was born from a 1960 study by the Railway Board of India aimed at breaking the 96 km/h speed limit on broad gauge lines. The goal was to reach 160 km/h, with an intermediate target of 120 km/h. Following field trials by the Research Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO) starting in 1967, the first Rajdhani was flagged off on March 1, 1969. This original nine-coach service connected New Delhi to Howrah, completing the 1,450 km journey in just 17 hours and 20 minutes. It was the only train of its kind until a second service from Mumbai was introduced in 1972.

Over the decades, the service evolved from simple chair car coaches to fully air-conditioned sleeper configurations, including first class, two-tier, and three-tier options. While the trains are technically capable of higher speeds, actual performance is often moderated to 130 km/h due to traffic congestion and track limitations. The fleet has seen significant technological shifts, moving from diesel locomotives like the WDM-2 to modern WAP-7 and WAP-5 electric locomotives. By 2018, the cost of a single train-set reached ₹75 crore (US$7.8 million), reflecting its status as a premium service with higher network priority and dynamic pricing.

Modern upgrades have introduced the 'Tejas Rajdhani,' featuring coaches with air suspensions, bio-toilets, Wi-Fi, and automatic doors. However, the history of the Rajdhani is also marked by significant challenges, including high-profile incidents of sabotage, hijackings, and accidents. Notable events include a 2002 derailment in Bihar caused by Naxalite sabotage and a 2009 hijacking by Maoist-backed activists in West Bengal. Despite these risks and various technical hurdles—such as fires and collisions with wildlife—the Rajdhani remains a vital artery of Indian transport, connecting the capital to the nation's largest cities.

Today, there are 26 operational pairs of ordinary Rajdhani Express services as of September 2025. Only five cities—Kolkata, Mumbai, Bhubaneswar, Ranchi, and Dibrugarh—currently host three pairs of end-to-end services. The network continues to expand, with new routes like the Agartala and Sairang Tejas Rajdhani services marking the latest chapters in a 50-year legacy of high-speed rail development in India.

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