Trains Shatabdi Express Details

Shatabdi Express – Indian Railways’ Flagship Day-Train Series

(Railway GK for all RRB NTPC, Group-D, ALP, JE exams)

1. Core Facts – Must Remember Capsule

Parameter Data
Introduced on 1st November 1988 (Indian Railways’ centenary year)
Inaugurated by Prime Minister Shri Rajiv Gandhi
First Shatabdi New Delhi – Jhansi (later extended to Bhopal) – 404 km
Name meaning “Centenary” (Shatabdi = 100 years)
Train type Superfast (Day-return) chair-car service
Max. Permissible Speed 150 km/h (since 2019, WAP-7 / WAP-5 with HOG)
Average speed (rounded) 70–85 km/h (includes halts)
Distinguishing colour Navy-blue / ivory livery with anti-telescopic ends
On-board meal policy Fare inclusive (no separate catering charges w.e.f. 19.09.2018)
Current fleet (Apr 2024) 25 pairs (50 trains) – 19 by NR, 3 by NER, 2 by SER, 1 by SCR
Longest run 12027/28 MGR Chennai Central – Mysuru Shatabdi – 500 km
Shortest run 12009/10 Mumbai Central – Ahmedabad – 493 km
Highest priority Rajdhani > Shatabdi > Duronto > other Superfast
Traction 100% electric; End-on-Generation (EOG) eliminated; Head-on-Generation (HOG) since 2019

2. Evolution Timeline – Quick Glance

Year Milestone
1988 First Shatabdi (NDLS-Jhansi) flagged off
1992 First non-NDLS Shatabdi: Mumbai-Pune
2001 First South-India Shatabdi: Chennai-Bangalore
2011 First AC Double-decker Shatabdi trial (never regularised)
2016 Wi-fi enabled (first on 12001 Bhopal Shatabdi)
2018 Catering made “optional” → later rolled back; meals again included
2019 Converted to HOG; speed raised to 150 km/h on Tughlakabad-Agra section
2020 All Shatabdi suspended due to COVID; services restored in phased manner
2023 “Amrit” scheme dynamic pricing introduced (flexi fare remains)

3. Salient Features – Bullet Points for Exam Revision

  • Only sitting accommodation – AC Chair Car (CC) & Executive Chair Car (EC).
  • No sleeper / no pantry car; meals loaded on-board through base kitchens.
  • Flexi-fare system since 2016: 10% hike after every 10% berths filled (max 50%).
  • Dynamic “Amrit” pricing on 25% trains since Sept-2023 (similar to airlines).
  • Slip coaches not attached; fully vestibuled LHB rakes.
  • Automatic fire suppression system & bio-toilets standard.
  • Green rating – 5-star by IGBC for Chennai-Mysuru rake (2022).

4. Zone-wise Shatabdi List (as on 01-04-2024) – RRB Favourite

S.N. Train No. Route (Up / Dn) Distance (km) Travel time Zone Rake Maintained at
1 12001/02 NDLS – Bhopal 704 8h 05m NR Bhopal
2 12003/04 NDLS – Lucknow 512 6h 30m NR Lucknow Jn
3 12005/06 NDLS – Kalka 269 4h 10m NR Kalka
4 12009/10 Mumbai Central – Ahmedabad 493 6h 25m WR Mumbai Central
5 12011/12 KLK – New Delhi 269 4h 10m NR Kalka
6 12013/14 NDLS – Amritsar 448 6h 00m NR Amritsar
7 12015/16 NDLS – Ajmer 444 6h 25m NR Ajmer
8 12017/18 NDLS – Dehradun 314 5h 50m NR Dehradun
9 12019/20 Howrah – Ranchi 423 7h 10m SER Howrah
10 12025/26 MGR Chennai – Bengaluru 362 5h 00m SR Chennai Beach
11 12027/28 MGR Chennai – Mysuru 500 7h 00m SR Chennai Beach
12 12029/30 NDLS – Amritsar 448 5h 55m NR Amritsar
13 12031/32 NDLS – Amritsar 448 5h 55m NR Amritsar
14 12033/34 NDLS – Kanpur 437 5h 10m NR Kanpur Central
15 12035/36 NDLS – Agra Cantt 195 2h 10m NR Agra Cantt
16 12037/38 NDLS – Ludhiana 329 4h 30m NR Ludhiana
17 12039/40 NDLS – Kathgodam 282 5h 15m NR Izzatnagar (KGM sick line)
18 12041/42 Howrah – New Jalpaiguri 566 8h 15m NFR Howrah
19 12043/44 NDLS – Moga 398 6h 45m NR Moga
20 12045/46 NDLS – Chandigarh 244 3h 25m NR Chandigarh
21 12047/48 NDLS – Bhatinda 355 5h 50m NR Bhatinda
22 12049/50 Gwalior – NDLS 306 4h 00m NR Gwalior
23 12051/52 Mumbai CST – Madgaon 572 8h 30m KR Mumbai CST
24 12053/54 Haridwar – Amritsar 407 7h 00m NR Amritsar
25 12055/56 DEE – Bandra T 1146 15h 10m NR Delhi Cantt

Note: 12055/56 is the only overnight Shatabdi (day-night-day) and longest.

5. Exam-Friendly Numbers – “Digit Master-List”

  • 150 – Max operational speed (km/h)
  • 25 – Total Shatabdi pairs (2024)
  • 1988 – Inauguration year
  • 404 – Inaugural route length (km) NDLS-Jhansi-BPL
  • 8 – Number of halts (average)
  • 2 – Chair car classes only (CC & EC)
  • 0 – Pantry car; 0 – Slip coaches
  • 100% – LHB coaches; 100% – Bio-toilets; 100% – Electric traction

6. Frequently Asked Q&A (Theory)

Question:01 Which of the following was India’s first Shatabdi Express and the date it was introduced?

A) New Delhi – Jhansi Shatabdi Express on 1 November 1988 (later extended to Bhopal)

B) Mumbai Central – Ahmedabad Shatabdi Express on 1 October 1989

C) Howrah – New Jalpaiguri Shatabdi Express on 1 December 1990

D) Chennai Central – Bangalore City Shatabdi Express on 1 July 1992

Show Answer

Correct Answer: A

Explanation: The New Delhi – Jhansi Shatabdi Express, flagged off on 1 November 1988, was the first Shatabdi Express train in India; it was later extended to Bhopal and is now known as the Bhopal Shatabdi Express.

Question:02 Why is the train called “Shatabdi”?

A) It was launched to mark 100 years of Indian Railways.
B) It covers 100 km in exactly one hour.
C) It was named after the 100th rail line laid in India.
D) It was the 100th express train introduced by Indian Railways.

Show Answer Correct Answer: A Explanation: The Shatabdi Express was introduced in 1988 to commemorate the centenary (100th year) of Indian Railways (1853–1953 celebrations extended to 1988), hence the name “Shatabdi,” meaning “century” in Hindi.

Question:03 Which Shatabdi Express currently holds the record for the highest Maximum Permissible Speed (MPS) of 150 km/h?

A) Mumbai Central–Ahmedabad Shatabdi Express
B) New Delhi–Ludhiana Shatabdi Express
C) New Delhi–Bhopal Shatabdi Express
D) Chennai–Mysuru Shatabdi Express

Show Answer

Correct Answer: C

Explanation: All Shatabdi rakes are certified for 150 km/h, but the New Delhi–Bhopal Shatabdi Express (train Nos. 12001/02) was the first to actually run at 150 km/h on the Tughlakabad–Agra stretch, making it the holder of the highest MPS among Shatabdis.

Question:04 Does the Shatabdi Express have sleeper coaches?

A) Yes, it has both AC and non-AC sleeper coaches.
B) Yes, but only AC 3-tier sleeper coaches.
C) No, it operates only with day sitting coaches (AC Chair Car & Executive Chair Car).
D) No, it has only general second-class sitting coaches.

Show Answer

Correct Answer: C

Explanation: Shatabdi Express trains are premium day-trains meant for short to medium distances; they do not carry any sleeper accommodation—only AC Chair Car and Executive Chair Car seating are provided.

Question:05 Which of the following pairs is the longest-running Shatabdi Express train in terms of distance?

A) 12001/02 Bhopal–New Delhi

B) 12009/10 Mumbai Central–Ahmedabad

C) 12055/56 DEE–Bandra Terminus

D) 12013/14 Amritsar–New Delhi

Show Answer

Correct Answer: C

Explanation: The 12055/56 Dehradun Express (DEE)–Bandra Terminus Shatabdi covers 1 146 km in 15 h 10 m, making it the longest route among all Shatabdi services.

Question:06 Which of the following Shatabdi Express pairs covers the shortest distance?

A) New Delhi–Agra Cantt (12035/36)

B) New Delhi–Chandigarh (12045/46)

C) Chennai–Bengaluru (12027/28)

D) Mumbai Central–Ahmedabad (12009/10)

Show Answer

Correct Answer: A

Explanation: The 12035/36 New Delhi–Agra Cantt Shatabdi Express is the shortest-route Shatabdi, covering only 195 km in about 2 h 10 m.

Question:07 Is food served free on Shatabdi trains?

A) No, catering is optional and paid separately.

B) Yes, fare is inclusive of catering.

C) Only breakfast is complimentary; other meals are chargeable.

D) Food is served only on payment of an additional catering fee.

Show Answer

Correct Answer: B

Explanation: Since the rollback of optional catering in September 2018, the fare of Shatabdi trains includes the cost of meals.

Question:08 [What is the standard LHB coach composition of a 2026 Shatabdi Express?]

A) 1 EC + 15 CC + 2 EOG = 18 coaches
B) 2 EC + 14 CC + 2 EOG = 18 coaches
C) 3 EC + 13 CC + 2 EOG = 18 coaches
D) 2 EC + 12 CC + 4 EOG = 18 coaches

Show Answer

Correct Answer: B

Explanation: A standard 2026 Shatabdi runs with 2 Executive Chair Car (EC) coaches, 14 Chair Car (CC) coaches and 2 End-on-Generator (EOG) power cars, making a total of 18 LHB coaches; the exact count can vary between 16 and 20 according to demand.

Question:09 Which of the following Shatabdi Express trains was the first to be upgraded and run with the “Swarn” rake?

A) New Delhi–Kalka Shatabdi Express (12005/06)

B) New Delhi–Lucknow Swarn Shatabdi Express (12003/04)

C) New Delhi–Amritsar Swarn Shatabdi Express (12013/14)

D) New Delhi–Bhopal Shatabdi Express (12001/02)

Show Answer

Correct Answer: B

Explanation: 12003/04 New Delhi–Lucknow Shatabdi Express became the first Shatabdi to be upgraded with the “Swarn” rake in 2017.

Question:10 Which zone operates the maximum number of Shatabdi trains?

A) Western Railway
B) Northern Railway
C) Central Railway
D) Southern Railway

Show Answer Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Northern Railway operates 19 pairs of Shatabdi trains, the highest among all zones.

7. 15 MCQs – Practice Set

Instructions: Choose the most appropriate option.

  1. The first Shatabdi Express was flagged off between
    A) Mumbai-Pune
    B) New Delhi-Jhansi
    C) Howrah-Ranchi
    D) Chennai-Bangalore
    Ans: B

  2. Shatabdi Expresses were introduced to commemorate
    A) 50 years of Indian Independence
    B) 100 years of Indian Railways
    C) 50 years of Railways in India
    D) Birth centenary of Jawaharlal Nehru
    Ans: B

  3. Maximum permissible speed of Shatabdi trains is
    A) 130 km/h
    B) 140 km/h
    C) 150 km/h
    D) 160 km/h
    Ans: C

  4. Which of the following does NOT belong to Shatabdi features?
    A) AC Chair Car
    B) Flexi-fare
    C) Pantry car
    D) Bio-toilets
    Ans: C

  5. The longest running Shatabdi (distance wise) is
    A) New Delhi-Bhopal
    B) Howrah-Ranchi
    C) Delhi Sarai Rohilla-Bandra
    D) Chennai-Mysuru
    Ans: C

  6. The shortest Shatabdi route is
    A) NDLS-Kalka
    B) NDLS-Agra Cantt
    C) NDLS-Chandigarh
    D) Mumbai-Ahmedabad
    Ans: B

  7. Shatabdi trains are hauled by
    A) WDM3A only
    B) WAP-5/WAP-7 only
    C) Both WDM & WAP
    D) WDG4
    Ans: B

  8. How many total Shatabdi pairs are running as on April 2024?
    A) 20
    B) 22
    C) 25
    D) 28
    Ans: C

  9. The only overnight Shatabdi is
    A) 12005 Kalka-NDLS
    B) 12055 DEE-Bandra
    C) 12001 Bhopal-NDLS
    D) 12051 Madgaon-Mumbai
    Ans: B

  10. Shatabdi coaches are manufactured by
    A) BEML
    B) ICF
    C) LHB design at RCF Kapurthala
    D) CLW
    Ans: C

  11. Which Shatabdi was upgraded as “Swarn” first?
    A) NDLS-Lucknow
    B) NDLS-Amritsar
    C) NDLS-Bhopal
    D) NDLS-Kalka
    Ans: A

  12. The fare of Shatabdi includes
    A) Only seat rent
    B) Seat + superfast charge only
    C) Seat + superfast + catering
    D) Seat + GST only
    Ans: C

  13. Executive Chair Car (EC) has seating arrangement of
    A) 2×2
    B) 2×3
    C) 1×2
    D) 3×3
    Ans: C

  14. The first Shatabdi of South India was introduced between
    A) Chennai-Bangalore
    B) Chennai-Mysuru
    C) Thiruvananthapuram-Madurai
    D) Hyderabad-Chennai
    Ans: A

  15. Head-on-Generation (HOG) system in Shatabdi means
    A) Generator car at front
    B) Power drawn from loco instead of EOG
    C) Battery bank under every coach
    D) Solar panels on roof
    Ans: B

Use this sheet for daily 10-minute revision – ensure 100% accuracy in Shatabdi questions under “Trains” category of RRB NTPC/Group-D/JE/ALP exams.

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