Kolkata: The Sealdah-New Delhi Rajdhani Express reached a milestone on Tuesday, celebrating its 25th anniversary. Until 2000, the train only left from Howrah station, Eastern Railway officials said. "On July 1, 2000, Railways connected the vibrant city of Kolkata with New Delhi," an official said.
Bhaskar Pyne, part of the Eastern Railway Fans Club, said: "We have been looking forward to the Sealdah-Rajdhani Express's 25th anniversary. The silver jubilee board mounted on the train was designed by our group.
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Divisional railway manager Sealdah, Rajeev Saxena, flagged off the train at 4.50 pm. People waved as train number 12313/12314 chugged out of the platform, right on time.
The 1st AC coach, H1, depicted Indian Railway's history with sketches of Kolkata and Delhi — from the British era to modern-day developments. Passengers were welcomed on board with roses. The dinner menu included the GI-tagged ‘Kolkatar Rasogolla'.
"Over the last 25 years, Sealdah Rajdhani Express has proved to be the preferred choice for travellers because of its punctuality and comfort. A quarter-century of dedicated service reaffirms Sealdah division's commitment to providing a world-class travel experience," Saxena said.