Rajdhani Express

Rajdhani Express is one of the most prestigious trains of the Indian Railways. Introduced on 1 March 1969 between New Delhi and Howrah, it was once the fastest train in India, running at about 120 km/h. The train reduced the travel time between the two cities from about 24 hours to around 17 hours. 

Designed to connect the national capital with major cities, the train was rightly named the Rajdhani Express. It quickly became known for its speed, comfort, and premium onboard services. Even today, the Rajdhani Express remains a premium choice offering comfort and a symbol of speed.

Ticket prices for the Rajdhani Express vary depending on the route, travel class, and demand. Rajdhani Express ticket prices for several routes were revised in 2025. Indicative fares for popular routes are as follows:

Ticket fares usually range between ₹2500 and ₹6000 for most Rajdhani Express routes.

Below are some of the major routes Rajdhani Express covers, showcasing the wide reach across India.

• Rajdhani Express 22222/22221 travels between Delhi and Mumbai in approximately 18 hrs 7 mins.
• Rajdhani Express 12953/12954 travels between Mumbai and Delhi in approximately 16 hrs 41 mins.
• Rajdhani Express 12301/12302 travels between Howrah and Delhi in approximately 17 hrs 10 mins.
• Rajdhani Express 12305/12306 travels between Howrah and Delhi in approximately 19 hrs 42 mins.
• Rajdhani Express 12309/12310 travels between Patna and Delhi in approximately 12 hrs 17 mins.
• Rajdhani Express 12313/12314 travels between Kolkata and Delhi in approximately 17 hrs 50 mins.
• Rajdhani Express 22811/22812 travels between Bhubaneswar and Delhi in approximately 23 hrs 17 mins.
• Rajdhani Express 12423/12424 travels between Dibrugarh and Delhi in approximately 37 hrs 37 mins.
• Rajdhani Express 12425/12426 travels between Delhi and Jammu in approximately 8 hrs 25 mins.
• Rajdhani Express 22691/22692 travels between Bangalore and Delhi in approximately 33 hrs 30 mins.
• Rajdhani Express 12431/12432 travels between Trivandrum and Delhi in approximately 41 hrs 17 mins.
• Rajdhani Express 12433/12434 travels between Chennai and Delhi in approximately 28 hrs 55 mins.
• Rajdhani Express 20505/20506 travels between Dibrugarh and Delhi in approximately 39 hrs 41 mins.
• Rajdhani Express 12437/12438 travels between Hyderabad and Delhi in approximately 21 hrs 50 mins.
• Rajdhani Express 20839/20840 travels between Ranchi and Delhi in approximately 16 hrs 57 mins.
• Rajdhani Express 12441/12442 travels between Bilaspur and Delhi in approximately 20 hrs 37 mins.
• Rajdhani Express 12453/12454 travels between Ranchi and Delhi in approximately 17 hrs 45 mins.
• Rajdhani Express 12951/12952 travels between Mumbai and Delhi in approximately 15 hrs 36 mins.
• Rajdhani Express 12957/12958 travels between Ahmedabad and Delhi in approximately 12 hrs 35 mins.
• Rajdhani Express 20407/20408 travels between Ranchi and Delhi in approximately 16 hrs 22 mins.
• Rajdhani Express 20504/20503 travels between Delhi and Dibrugarh in approximately 41 hrs 29 mins.
• Rajdhani Express 22824/22823 travels between Delhi and Bhubaneswar in approximately 24 hrs 27 mins.
• Rajdhani Express 22207/22208 travels between Chennai and Trivandrum in approximately 15 hrs 5 mins.
• Rajdhani Express 22414/22413 travels between Delhi and Goa in approximately 25 hrs 42 mins.
• Rajdhani Express 20817/20818 travels between Bhubaneswar and Delhi in approximately 26 hrs 55 mins.

Rajdhani Express routes are spread across India. They connect major cities with New Delhi. Here are the major routes of the Rajdhani Express:

Note: In the above table, the train number after the “/” refers to the return journey of the same train. Eg: While 12302 travels from New Delhi to Howrah, 12301 travels from Howrah to New Delhi.

How to Book Rajdhani Express Train Tickets Online?

With the online reservation system, booking tickets for Rajdhani Express trains has become easier. Here is a step-by-step guide explaining how to book train tickets in a hassle-free manner through redBus.

• Step 1: Go to the redBus website or app, navigate to “Train Tickets” and click on it. You can also download the redRail mobile app. 
• Step 2: Enter preferences like the departure and destination stations, the travel date, and then click on “Search Trains”. From the train list, choose Rajdhani Express
• Step 3: Choose one from the 1AC, 2AC, or 3AC seat options. Before proceeding, check seat availability
• Step 4: Provide passenger details like name, age, gender, and contact information. To proceed, you also have to enter the IRCTC username.
• Step 5: Add identity proof documents and verify your mobile number by entering the OTP
• Step 6: In the final step, you have to make the online payment. You may pay via debit card, credit card, or digital wallets. The e-ticket is generated once the payment is successful.

Online booking through redBus and redRail is quite convenient and faster for passengers across India. People can easily secure their seats on premium trains like the Rajdhani Express without visiting railway counters.