Shatabdi Express
Bhopal Shatabdi Express (second fastest train in India)
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| Main Operation(s): | India 1988 - |
| Fleet size: | 22 |
| Parent company: | Indian Railways |
Shatabdi Express trains are a series of fast (called superfast in India) passenger trains operated by Indian Railways to connect Metro cities with other cities important for tourism, pilgrimage or business. Shatabdi Express are day-trains and they return to the station of origin the same day.
The Shatabdis along with The Rajdhani and the Duronto are among the fastest trains in India and the Indian Railways consider Rajdhani and Shatabdi as prestigious. The Shatabdi Expresses get second highest priority, after Rajdhani Expresses which gets highest priority. The Shatabdi Express trains run over short to medium distances while the Rajdhani Expresses and the Duronto Expresses are long-distance trains. Rajdhani Expresses connect the nation's capital New Delhi to capitals of states and other major cities while Duronto Expresses connect major cities to other major cities. All three series of trains have a maximum speed of about 130 km/h (81 mph). The 12001 Bhopal Shatabdi express, however, runs at a peak speed of 155 km/h (96 mph), which makes it the second fastest train in India after Gatimaan Express.
The word "Shatabdi" means centenary in Sanskrit, Hindi and several Indian languages. The first Shatabdi train was started in 1988 to commemorate the centenary of Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru's Birthday (the First Prime Minister of India) & was flagged off by Madhav Rao Scindia, minister for railways. The train was driven by Driver 'A' Grade Special Mr Jamshed Jehangirji Dick & Late Mr L . R Gahlot both Drivers belonging to Jhansi division. It operated from New Delhi Railway Station via Agra to Gwalior Junction, Mr. Scindia's home town as the erstwhile Maharaja of Gwalior. The train remained idle at Gwalior between 1000 am and 1900 pm. The railway tracks between Gwalior and Bhopal were tested for safety before extending the Shatabdi's run in 1989 to Bhopal via Jhansi. Now known as the Bhopal Shatabdi Express, it departs from New Delhi at 0600 am and reaches Bhopal at 1350 pm, leaving on its return trip at 1515 pm and arriving at New Delhi at 2315 pm.
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