Duronto Express

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Duronto Express transl. Unstoppable Express
Howrah-New Delhi Duronto Express arrived at Prayagraj Junction
Overview
Status	Active
First service	18-September-2009; 17 years ago (18-September-2009)
Successor	Vande Bharat (sleeper trainset)
Current operator	Indian Railways
Website	https://indianrail.gov.in
Route
Line used	24
On-board services
Classes	1A, 2A, 3A, 3E, SL, and 2S
Seating arrangements	Yes
Sleeping arrangements	Yes
Catering facilities	On-board Catering
Observation facilities	Large Windows, Reading Lights, Announcement Speakers in All Classes
Baggage facilities	Underseat
Technical
Rolling stock	LHB coach
Track gauge	5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) broad gauge
Electrification	In 20 Trains
Operating speed	Avg: 60 – 83  km/h (37 – 51 mph) Max: 140  km/h (87 mph)
Track owner	Indian Railways

Duronto Express (transl. Unstoppable Express), means "restless" in Bengali, is a class of long-distance rapid trains operated by Indian Railways. Initially conceived to operate non-stop between origin and destination stations, since January-2016, these trains have been permitted to make additional commercial stops and accept ticket bookings from technical halts. Before the introduction of trains like the Gatimaan Express and Vande Bharat Express, Duronto trains held the distinction of being the fastest trains in India. Unlike its counterpart, the Rajdhani Express, which links India's capital, Delhi, to state capitals, the Duronto Express connects major metropolitan areas, state capitals, and the national capital, just like Shatabdi Trains.

History

The Union of India's Ministry of Railways has pursued the introduction of high-speed rail services in India. In 2007, the ministry initiated a pre-feasibility study for a 500-kilometre corridor between Delhi and Amritsar. Union Railway Minister Ms. Mamata Banerjee announced plans in January-2009 to engage global consultants for the implementation of high-speed trains on select routes. The Indian Railway Budget for the fiscal year 2010 saw the establishment of the National High Speed Rail Authority (NHSRA) under Banerjee's leadership, aimed at developing high-speed rail corridors across the country. The Duronto Express project was part of the government's initiatives to introduce semi-high speed rail travel ahead of the full implementation of high-speed railways.

In line with these efforts, Ms. Mamata Banerjee flagged off the inaugural Duronto Express service from Sealdah Railway Station to New Delhi on 18-September-2009. The objective of this train service was to provide high-speed rail connectivity comparable to the Rajdhani Express between various metropolitan and non-metropolitan cities, catering to diverse segments of the population. Unlike the Rajdhani Express, which primarily offered air-conditioned coaches, the Duronto Express was designed to accommodate a range of reserved coaches, LHB coach earlier was ICF coach including 1A, 2A, 3A, 3E, and SL Classes. Notably, the initial journey of the Duronto Express from Sealdah to New Delhi featured 1A, 2A, 3A, and 3E Classes.

About

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The Duronto Express holds the second highest priority among trains on the Indian railway network.^{[citation needed]} Passengers aboard this service are provided with optional meals, with the cost of food included in the train fare. Depending on the duration and timing of the journey, passengers can expect to be served morning tea, breakfast, lunch, high tea, and dinner.

Duronto Express trains offer three classes of accommodation:

• AC First Class (1A): Featuring two-berth and four-berth coupes with locking facilities for privacy.
• AC 2-tier (2A): Providing open bays with four berths per bay, along with curtains for privacy.
• AC 3-tier (3A): Similar to AC two-tier but with six berths per bay.
• AC 3 Tier Economy (3E): Also similar to AC three-tier but with more seats and smaller berths.
• Sleeper Class (SL): Featuring open bays with six berths per bay.

Currently^{[as of?]}, the Indian Railways operates a total of 24 Duronto Express trains across various routes in the country.

Traction

Some Duronto Express trains run with both diesel and electric locomotives, diesels like WDP-4, WDP-4D, WDM-3A and WDM-3D. Electric locomotives like WAP-4, WAP-5 and popular of all WAP-7^{[clarification needed]}

List of Duronto Express Trains

List of Defunct Duronto Express Trains

Gallery

• 
  22214 Patna-Kolkata Shalimar AC Duronto Express on Platform 1 of Shalimar Railway Station
• 
  12273 Howrah-New Delhi Duronto Express on Platform 6 of Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Junction
• 
  New Delhi–Bhubaneswar Duronto Express
• 
  Secunderabad to Hazrat Nizamuddin Duronto Express
• 
  Yeswanthapur–Howrah Duronto Express leaving Yeswanthapur railway station
• 
  12290 Nagpur Duronto Express at Mumbai CST station
• 
  12273 Howrah-New Delhi Duronto Express standing on platform 4 of Asansol Junction
• 
  12273 Howrah-New Delhi Duronto Express led by WAP 5 standing on Platform 5 at New Delhi Railway Station

Trivia

• Sealdah–Bikaner Duronto Express was not only the first Duronto service to Bikaner but also the first connecting New Delhi and Bikaner.
• Howrah–New Delhi Duronto Express which is equal to the Rajdhani Express gets top-most priority on the route, making it the fastest train in the Howrah–Delhi route.
• This train was used Hybrid LHB coaches, but the train equipped LHB coaches rakes.^{[clarification needed]}
• The name "Duronto" means "restless" in Bengali, reflecting its initial concept of running non-stop between its origin and destination.
• Duronto coaches are easily identifiable by their bright yellow-green color scheme, which was chosen to symbolize a "field full of flowers."^{[citation needed]}
• The Ernakulam–Hazrat Nizamuddin Duronto Express is one of the longest-running Duronto trains in terms of distance, connecting Kochi to New Delhi, covering over 2,900 km.

Efficiency and speed

The Duronto Express is one of the fastest trains in India. Some of these trains run faster than Rajdhani Express trains, which hold the record of the fastest long-distance trains in India. For example, the Chennai–Hazrat Nizamuddin Duronto Express takes 28 hours to cover the journey while the Chennai Rajdhani Express takes 28 hours 35 minutes to do so. The trains will adhere to the speed limit of 130 km/h. New Delhi–Sealdah Duronto Express has a top speed of 130 km/h. The Mumbai, Sealdah, Yeshwantpur and Secundrabad Duronto runs at a speed of 130 km/h. The Howrah/Bhubaneshwar New Delhi, Secunderabad Hazrat Nizamuddin are now equipped with LHB rakes and now they also run at a speed of 130 km/h. In March-2011, the cost of travel in the Duronto Express went up as the Minister of Railways announced a hike in railway fare. The decision to hike railway fares resulted in trouble across the Government and were rolled back, only to be raised again on 01-April.

Incidents and Accidents

• In January-2010, the passengers of the Duronto Express between Nagpur and Mumbai complained about passengers without confirmed tickets travelling inside the reserved coaches.
• In May-2010, at least 19 passengers on board the Ernakulam Duronto Express were admitted to the State-owned General Hospital after complaining of food poisoning.
• In June-2010, the Mumbai CST–Howrah Duronto Express faced interruption as its engine and generator car were detached from the rest of the train's coaches due to technical problems. The problem was fixed within less than an hour.
• In June-2013, the 12264 Hazrat Nizamuddin–Pune Duronto derailed near Monkey Hill due to a landslide. No injuries were reported & the train reached 5 hours late at Pune Junction.
• In September 2015, 12220 Lokmanya Tilak Terminus–Secunderabad AC Duronto Express derailed at Martur station between Shahbad and Gulbarga on Solapur Division in Karnataka at around 02:15. Two passengers were killed and more than 30 injured when eight of its coaches were derailed.
• On 29-August-2017 12290 Nagpur Duronto Express heading towards Mumbai derailed between Vasind and Asangaon stations at 06.30 as heavy rains had caused mud slides onto the tracks which caused the derailment. No casualties were reported in an official statement by the Railway department.
• On 17-January-2019 unidentified persons entered into Jammu-Delhi Duronto near Badli, Delhi and looted the passengers.^{[citation needed]}
• On 10-May-2019 engine failure caused late departure of the train from Mumbai central by an hour.^{[citation needed]}
• On 11-August-2019 Yeshvantapur–Delhi Sarai Rohilla AC Duronto Express was cancelled due to "unavoidable circumstances".^{[citation needed]}
• On 24-April-2019 12274 Howrah–New Delhi Duronto Express led by Howrah WAP-7 30370 ran over cattle while at MPS near Jamtara, Jharkhand. The locomotive failed and was backed by ABB made GZB WAP-5 30009, but due to throttle issues it too needed help. A banker Locomotive, GMO WAG-9 31932 was attached. No passenger casualties/injuries were reported. This was a rare incident where all three types of locomotives equipped with 3-phase technology were seen hauling one train.^{[citation needed]}
• On 16-October-2022 More than 20 armed robbers reportedly climbed onto a Delhi-Kolkata Duronto Express train early on Sunday. Several passengers were allegedly looted at gunpoint by the robbers who climbed onto at least six-seven bogies of the train.^{[citation needed]}

See Also

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Duronto Express trains.

• List of Duronto trains on India Rail website