Howrah Rajdhani Express (12301) is one of India's oldest Rajdhani services, connecting Howrah Junction (Kolkata) to New Delhi since 1969. It covers 1,448 km in approximately 17 hours via Dhanbad and Gaya. Operated by Eastern Railway with AC First, AC 2-Tier, and AC 3-Tier coaches.
| # | Station | Arrival | Departure |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Howrah Junction Kolkata | Start | 16:55 |
| 2 | Asansol Junction Asansol | 19:50 | 19:55 |
| 3 | Gaya Junction Gaya | 22:40 | 22:45 |
| 4 | Patna Junction Patna | 00:10 (+1d) | 00:15 (+1d) |
| 5 | Prayagraj Junction Prayagraj | 03:15 (+1d) | 03:20 (+1d) |
| 6 | Kanpur Central Kanpur | 05:10 (+1d) | 05:15 (+1d) |
| 7 | New Delhi Delhi | 10:00 (+1d) | End |
Timetable data is sourced from official India railways records and may vary due to delays or seasonal changes. Always verify with the official operator before travelling.
Howrah Rajdhani Express (12301) is one of India's oldest Rajdhani services, connecting Howrah Junction (Kolkata) to New Delhi since 1969. It covers 1,448 km in approximately 17 hours via Dhanbad and Gaya. Operated by Eastern Railway with AC First, AC 2-Tier, and AC 3-Tier coaches. As a special service, it is a premium service designed for higher-comfort travel on its corridor.
Howrah Rajdhani Express runs on every day of the week, with the timetable above showing the scheduled departure time at each intermediate stop. The full route includes 7 stops with a total scheduled time of 17h 5m, averaging out to approximately 170 minutes between consecutive stations once dwell time is taken into account. Major intermediate stops along the route include Asansol Junction, Gaya Junction, Patna Junction, Prayagraj Junction, providing passenger interchange points with regional and local services where available.
Howrah Rajdhani Express offers 4 travel classes: Sleeper SL, 3rd AC 3A, 2nd AC 2A, 1st AC 1A. The lowest published fare is INR 450 for Sleeper SL, while the highest-class fare is INR 3,050 for 1st AC 1A. Higher-class fares typically include wider seating, better climate control, and on many long-distance services include meals or refreshments. Travel class fare differences also reflect coach configuration — for example sleeper berths convert to flat beds for overnight travel, while seated coach classes use forward-facing reclining seats arranged 2+2 or 2+1 across the aisle. Check the per-class fare table on this page for the current published price by class.
Tickets for Howrah Rajdhani Express are sold by Indian Railways through the official booking portal at irctc.co.in. Indian Railways tickets through IRCTC require account registration with a verified email and mobile number. The general advance reservation window is 60 days before the journey date for most trains. Tatkal quota — emergency same-day tickets — opens at 10:00 for AC classes and 11:00 for non-AC classes one day before the travel date, costing a fixed premium over the base fare. Confirmed PNR status, waitlist position, and current seat availability can all be checked on the IRCTC website or NTES app.
On the day of travel, arrive at the originating station at least 30–45 minutes before the scheduled departure time. This gives time to locate the correct platform (platform number is announced on station information displays 20–60 minutes before departure), find your reserved coach (coach numbers are marked along the platform edge at major stations), and board with your luggage. Sleeper class passengers should note that bedrolls (linen, pillow, blanket) are typically provided by the operator on overnight services — confirm at the time of booking. Carry a light jacket or shawl as air-conditioning can run cold during the early-morning hours of the journey. Keep valuables in a small bag stowed under the lower berth rather than in overhead racks. Always cross-check the platform number against your e-ticket or seat reservation before boarding — multiple trains can depart within a short window from adjacent platforms during peak periods.
This Howrah Rajdhani Express page is part of the TrainsTracking India timetable collection covering passenger rail services across the Indian Railways network. Schedule data is verified daily against the official operator timetable, and fare information reflects the most recent published tariff. TrainsTracking is an information platform and does not process bookings or payments — all ticket purchases are completed directly through irctc.co.in. For real-time delay information, platform changes, and same-day cancellations, always check station displays or the official operator app immediately before travel.
Reserved seating
Reserved seating
Reserved seating
Reserved seating
Book Howrah Rajdhani Express tickets at irctc.co.in, the official Indian Railways portal. Compare fares and seat availability before booking. Online booking typically opens 30 to 90 days before departure.
Book NowVisit any Indian Railways booking office in person. Staff can help with seat selection, group bookings, and special assistance. Book early for popular departure times and holidays.
Contact Indian Railways for schedule information, delay updates, and booking assistance via their official website or station helpdesk.
Visit Indian RailwaysHowrah Rajdhani Express departs at 16:55 and arrives at the final destination at 10:00 on the following day. The total scheduled journey time is approximately 17h 5m. Times use the official India timetable and are local times at each stop. Always verify with Indian Railways on the day of travel as schedules can change due to engineering work or seasonal adjustments.
Howrah Rajdhani Express fares start from approximately INR 450 for Sleeper SL class and go up to INR 3,050 for 1st AC 1A. Higher-class fares include wider seating, climate control, and on long-distance services may include meals. Book through irctc.co.in for the latest published fares and to check current seat availability.
Tickets for Howrah Rajdhani Express are sold through irctc.co.in, the official Indian Railways booking platform. An IRCTC account with verified mobile and email is required. The advance reservation window is 60 days for most trains. Tatkal quota opens one day before travel for short-notice booking. Tickets can also be purchased at station booking offices during opening hours, typically 08:00–20:00 daily.
Howrah Rajdhani Express makes 7 scheduled stops along its route. The journey starts at Howrah Junction and ends at New Delhi. Major intermediate stops include Asansol Junction, Gaya Junction, Patna Junction, Prayagraj Junction, Kanpur Central. The full stop sequence with arrival and departure times is shown in the table above.
Howrah Rajdhani Express running days are shown in the hero section at the top of this page (badges indicate which days of the week the train operates). Some long-distance services run daily while others operate only on specific days (typically weekday-only or weekend-only). Operating days can change with the annual timetable revision (usually December) so verify current running days with Indian Railways before booking, particularly for trips planned more than 6 months ahead.
Yes — IRCTC accepts international debit/credit cards and the IRCTC website is accessible globally. You will need to create an account with a verified email and a phone number. Some international visitors prefer booking through cleartrip.com or 12go.asia which accept foreign cards more reliably for foreign passport holders.
Howrah Rajdhani Express offers 4 travel classes: Sleeper SL, 3rd AC 3A, 2nd AC 2A, 1st AC 1A. Economy or standard classes have reserved numbered seats at the lowest fare. Premium classes (business, first class, sleeper) add wider seats, climate control, and on overnight services berths for lying flat. The fare table on this page lists current published prices for each class.
Platform numbers are not pre-published — they are announced on station information displays between 20 and 60 minutes before scheduled departure. Arrive early at the originating station to check the platform allocation displays. At larger stations, platform numbers can also be viewed on the operator's app. If the train is delayed or rescheduled, the platform may change at short notice — always verify against station displays immediately before boarding.
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