Taj Express

The Taj Express was started in 1964 to serve tourists traveling from Delhi to Agra. It reduced the traveling time from over three hours to around two and a half hours. Taj Express was started along the lines of Deccan Queen- which ran as a high-speed commuter-special train between Pune Junction and CSMT Mumbai (ex Victoria Terminus Bombay) – and provided a quick and comfortable journey between Agra and Delhi. It was a very popular train especially among foreign tourists, before the Bhopal Shatabdi was introduced in 1988. The train was later extended up to Gwalior, then to Jhansi in 2006. It was named after Taj Mahal

Taj Express
Overview
LocaleDelhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan & Madhya Pradesh
First service1st October, 1964
between New Delhi & Agra
Route
TerminiNew Delhi
Gwalior Junction
Stops10
Distance travelled410 km (250 mi)
Average journey time7 hours
Service frequencyDaily
Train number(s)12279 / 12280
On-board services
Class(es)Executive Class Premium Class
Seating arrangementsCC & EC
Sleeping arrangementsNo
Catering facilitiesYes
Technical
Track gauge1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in)
Operating speed59 km/h (37 mph) average with halts

History
  • In 1964 Taj Express was introduced from New Delhi to Agra. Running at 105 km/h, it brought down travel time on this route to 2h 35m. It was hauled by a WP-7003 steam engine. It was a train that was immensely popular with tourists, particularly foreigners, as it gave them ample time to visit the Taj Mahal and neighbouring monuments before returning to Delhi that evening. It was posted on Facebook page of Ministry of Railways, Government of India (Facebook confirmed that this is the authentic profile for this public figure.) on 1st October 2022: On this day in 1964, Taj Express, the then fastest train on the Indian Railways Network was introduced between New Delhi and Agra Cantt.
  • Surprisingly, the train did not run on Wednesdays. The Taj Mahal monument was then closed to tourists on Mondays [1] and the one day off on Wednesdays was a direct financial loss. The Archaeological Survey of India then decided that the Taj Mahal would remain closed on Fridays for the public except for Muslims who could pray in the mosque between 12 noon to 2 P.M.[2] The Taj Express still did not operate on Wednesdays.
  • In Oct, 1982 The Taj Express began using diesel locomotives (WDM-2).
  • In 1985, then-Railway Minister Madhavrao Scindia extended the Taj Express to Gwalior Junction. Journey time was 5hrs 20 min, leaving Hazrat Nizamuddin at 0710 am and reaching Gwalior at 1230 pm. The return timings were 1710 pm departure Gwalior and 2230 pm arrival Hazrat Nizamuddin. In 1989, the Wednesdays off was discontinued. The train, however, remained idle for well over four hours at Gwalior.
  • In 1986 The Taj Express began using electric locomotives.
  • 1 July 2006, the train was extended to Jhansi.
  • 4 January 2016, the train introduced LHB coach.
  • 21 February 2018, the source for 12280 and destination station of 12279, changed from Hazrat Nizamuddin (NZM) to New Delhi (NDLS).

Train Info
Locomotive Ghaziabad (GZB) WAP-5 WAP-7
Train coaches LHB rakes
ENG Luggage brake

& Generator car

 AC Chair Car

(1st Class)

 Chair Car

(2nd Class)

 General

(3rd Class)

 Luggage brake

& Generator car

L EOG C1 C2 C3 D1 D2 D3 D4 D5 D6 D7 D8 D9 D10 D11 D12 D13 D14 GS1 GS2 EOG

Route

The train numbered 12279 goes from Gwalior Junctionto New Delhi railway station, and train number is 12280 goes from New Delhi railway station to Gwalior.

Taj Express
# Station Code Average speed / hour Zone Address
1 New Delhi NDLS 40 NR Ajmeri Gate 110002, Delhi NCT
2 Nizamuddin, Delhi NZM 70 NR New Delhi 110013, Delhi NCT
3 Faridabad FDB 80 NR PIN 121003, Haryana
4 Mathura MTJ 90 NCR Mathura, Uttar Pradesh
5 Raja ki Mandi, Agra RKM 30 NCR Agra, Uttar Pradesh
6 Agra Cantt, Agra AGC 60 NCR Agra, Uttar Pradesh
7 Dhaulpur DHO 60 NCR Dhaulpur, Rajasthan
8 Morena MRA 60 NCR Morena, Madhya Pradesh
9 Gwalior Junction GWL 70 NCR Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh

Locomotive

As the whole route is electrified the train is generally hauled by WAP-7 from Ghaziabad for its whole journey. But occasionally it is also hauled by WAP-5 from Ghaziabad.

See also

References
  1. "Taj Mahal in Agra Tours, Taj Mahal in Agra travel, Taj Mahal in Agra Tour packages, Taj Mahal in Agra Tourism, Golden Triangle Travel". Archived from the original on 30 January 2016. Retrieved 11 January 2017.
  2. "Taj Mahal, Uttar Pradesh, Archaeological Survey of India". Archived from the original on 15 February 2015. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
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