The 12431 / 12432 Hazrat Nizamuddin–Thiruvananthapuram Rajdhani Express is a Rajdhani Express train service in India, connecting Hazrat Nizamuddin in the country capital New Delhi to Thiruvananthapuram Central, the capital of Kerala state.[1] It is the longest-running Rajdhani Express train in India, which covers about 2845 km in about 42 hours.[2]
The train number is 12431/12432 which runs only on Tuesday, Thursday & Friday from Thiruvananthapuram Central to Hazrat Nizamuddin also it reverse runs in Sunday, Tuesday & Wednesday from Hazrat Nizamuddin to Thiruvananthapuram Central. It connects the states of Kerala, Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan & New Delhi.[3]
In initial days the train had very few stops. Until 1999 it was the non-stop Rajdhani between Panvel and Hazrat Nizamuddin. Thereafter stops were introduced in this section. Despite this the train runs non-stop between Kota Junction and Vadodara Junction section (528km), which is the longest non-stop run in the country.[4]
It has a record for the highest section speed, reaching 104km/h (65mph) between Ratnagiri and Sawantwadi Road (225km or 140mi in 2h10min). It also gets a top speed of 130km/h (81mph) between Nagda and Hazrat Nizamuddin (267km). It moves at an average speed of 76.36km/h (47.45mph) between Delhi and Thiruvananthapuram.
The Thiruvananthapuram Rajdhani generally has one AC 1st Class, 5 AC 2 tier, 11 AC 3 tier coaches, 1 pantry car, and 2 luggage cum generator coaches making a total of 21 LHB coach. Back in 1995, the train had 11 coaches only.
It is hauled by a Vadodara Loco Shed based WAP-7 (HOG equipped) electric locomotive from end to end.
Incidents
On 18 October 2018, two coaches of TVC Rajdhani derailed at a staffed level crossing at Thandla Road railway station near Ratlam when a truck rammed into the train. There were no injuries to train passengers but the truck driver was killed due to the collision. The train continued its journey after a delay of 7 hours towards New Delhi.[5]