When the train started, it used to take 19 hours and 5 minutes and the journey has now been shortened to 15 hours and 50 minutes. Till 1988, Rajdhani, with a maximum speed of 120 kmph, was the fastest in Indian Railways.

“The original train was diesel hauled and after electrification in the early 1990s, the train was hauled by electric locomotives. In 2003, the train was upgraded with new Linke Hofmann Busch class coaches designed for a higher speed and improved safety. Now, the train runs with smart Tejas class coaches with automatic door closing facility,” he added.

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‘The Red and White train’

N K Chawla

Recalling memories of the prestigious Mumbai-Delhi Rajdhani Express, where he worked as a train superintendent for over 12 years, N K Chawla said, “I call it Red and White train. I joined the Indian Railways in 1980 and retired in 2015. I was posted on the Rajdhani Express between 1998 and 2010. If I look back at my memories from 35 years ago, I can still see the red and white world of Indian Railways.” Chawla said he used to greet passengers with Jai Mata Di.  

“As most of you already know, Rajdhani Express was and is exotic, elite and special passenger train that connected the financial capital with the country’s capital and the best travelled in it,” he said, recalling the hoards of celebrity passengers including Dream Girl Hema Malini, Amitabh Bachchan, Vijayendra Ghatge etc. “It was also a privilege to escort India’s deputy prime minister Dr Lal Krishna Advani onboard the train,” he added. 

Chawla said, “My job profile was to inspect the train before each trip, assist passengers with directions, luggage, enforcing rules, doing ticket accounting, studying train orders and so on.”