What are Shatabdi Express Trains?
Shatabdi Express trains are a series of superfast passenger trains introduced by Indian Railways for the ease and convenience of passengers commuting between major cities. These trains are operated on relatively shorter distances as compared to other fast trains in India like Duronto and Rajdhani Express. Shatabdi Express trains connect Indian metropolitans and also cities that are significant in terms of business, tourism or pilgrimage.
In Hindi, Sanskrit and many other Indian languages, the word Shatabdi means ‘centenary’ aka the hundredth anniversary. This series was introduced in 1988 to commemorate the 100th birth anniversary of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India. The very first Shatabdi Express, introduced by the then Railway Minister Madhav Rao Scindia, operated between New Delhi and Gwalior and was later extended till Jhansi.
Currently, there are 25 pairs of Shatabdi Express trains operating between major Indian metros and cities.
Features and Facilities of Shatabdi Express Trains
- Shatabdi Express are day trains. This means, the train starts from the originating station, travels to its destination, and then returns to the originating station on the same day.
- Like Rajdhani and Duronto, Shatabdi Express trains are also superfast with a maximum speed of 120 km per hour. They count among the fastest trains in the country.
- Unlike Rajdhani and Duronto trains, these are short-distance trains.
- Trains in the Shatabdi Express series have fewer stops compared to mail and passenger trains operating on the same routes.
- These trains have fully air-conditioned coaches.
- Since Shatabdi trains are for day-travel, the coaches don’t have any berths. They have a seating-only layout.
- There are two classes of travel in Shatabdi Express trains – AC Chair Car (AC) and Executive Chair Cars (EC). Of late, Indian Railways has introduced a third type of travel class – named Anubhuti – in a few Shatabdi Express trains.
- Food prices are included in Shatabdi train tickets. Depending on the duration of your journey and the time of your boarding, you will be served breakfast, lunch, dinner, coffee/tea, soup, snacks, a bottle of water, etc.
- Unlike many other express passenger trains in India, Shatabdi trains don’t have Unreserved/General (UR/GEN) class. You can board these trains only with prior reservation.
- Some of the trains in the Shatabdi series have onboard entertainment and infotainment systems that allow passengers to view movies and other programs during the journey.
- Since Shatabdi trains are premium superfast trains, they get priority on the railway network.
- Shatabdi Express trains also have facilities such as power ports to charge mobile phones and laptops and overhead racks to keep your luggage.
- Currently, Indian Railways follows the dynamic pricing or the flexi fare system in the AC Chair Car (CC) class of many Shatabdi trains. That is, Shatabdi ticket prices are not fixed, but they increase based on demand.
Shatabdi Express Routes
As of now, 25 pairs of Shatabdi trains run on the railway tracks, connecting major cities in the country. These include New Delhi, Howrah, Amritsar, Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, Kanpur, Guwahati, Coimbatore, Puri, Kalka, Lucknow, Chandigarh, Mysore, Ahmedabad, Secunderabad, and Ranchi, to mention a few. Currently, the Shatabdi Express that connects Habib Ganj to New Delhi has the longest route and journey time (705 km). The shortest Shatabdi route is between New Delhi and Chandigarh (244 km).
List of Shatabdi Express Trains
Here’s a complete list of Shatabdi trains running across the country, with timings, timetable, other details, as of July 2019:
| S.no | Train | From | To | Arr. | Dep. | SMTWTFS |
| 1 | Ndls Shatabdi E (12001) | Bhopal Junction | New Delhi | 22:45 | 14:45 | YYYYYYY |
| 2 | Bhopal Shtbdi (12002) | New Delhi | Bhopal Junction | 14:05 | 06:00 | YYYYYYY |
| 3 | Lko Swran Shtbd (12003) | Lucknow Charbagh | New Delhi | 22:05 | 15:35 | YYYYYYY |
| 4 | Lko Swran Shtbd (12004) | New Delhi | Lucknow Charbagh | 12:30 | 06:15 | YYYYYYY |
| 5 | Kalka Shtbdi (12005) | New Delhi | Kalka | 21:20 | 17:15 | YYYYYYY |
| 6 | Kalka Shtbdi (12006) | Kalka | New Delhi | 10:25 | 06:15 | YYYYYYY |
| 7 | Shatabdi Exp (12007) | Chennai Central | Mysore Junction | 13:00 | 06:00 | YYYNYYY |
| 8 | Shatabdi Exp (12008) | Mysore Junction | Chennai Central | 21:25 | 14:15 | YYYNYYY |
| 9 | Shatabdi Exp (12009) | Mumbai Central | Ahmedabad Junction | 13:10 | 06:25 | NYYYYYY |
| 10 | Shatabdi Exp (12010) | Ahmedabad Junction | Mumbai Central | 21:35 | 14:30 | NYYYYYY |
| 11 | Kalka Shtbdi (12011) | New Delhi | Kalka | 11:45 | 07:40 | YYYYYYY |
| 12 | Kalka Shtbdi (12012) | Kalka | New Delhi | 21:55 | 17:45 | YYYYYYY |
| 13 | Amritsar Shtbdi (12013) | New Delhi | Amritsar Junction | 22:35 | 16:30 | YYYYYYY |
| 14 | Amritsar Shtbdi (12014) | Amritsar Junction | New Delhi | 11:15 | 05:00 | YYYYYYY |
| 15 | Ajmer Shtbdi (12015) | New Delhi | Ajmer Junction | 12:45 | 06:05 | YYYYYYY |
| 16 | Ajmer Shtbdi (12016) | Ajmer Junction | New Delhi | 22:40 | 15:45 | YYYYYYY |
| 17 | Dehradun Shtbdi (12017) | New Delhi | Dehradun | 12:40 | 06:50 | YYYYYYY |
| 18 | Dehradun Shtbdi (12018) | Dehradun | New Delhi | 22:45 | 17:00 | YYYYYYY |
| 19 | Satabdi Express (12019) | Kolkata Howrah Junction | Ranchi Junction | 13:10 | 06:05 | NYYYYYY |
| 20 | Shatabdi Expres (12020) | Ranchi Junction | Kolkata Howrah Junction | 21:10 | 13:45 | NYYYYYY |
| 21 | Shatabdi Express (12025) | Pune Junction | Secunderabad Junction | 14:20 | 05:50 | YYNYYYY |
| 22 | Pune Shatabdi (12026) | Secunderabad Junction | Pune Junction | 23:10 | 14:45 | YYNYYYY |
| 23 | Shatabdi Exp (12027) | Chennai Central | Bangalore City Junction | 22:30 | 17:30 | YYNYYYY |
| 24 | Shatabdi Exp (12028) | Bangalore City Junction | Chennai Central | 11:00 | 06:00 | YYNYYYY |
| 25 | Swarna Shtbdi (12029) | New Delhi | Amritsar Junction | 13:35 | 07:20 | YYYYNYY |
| 26 | Swarna Shtbdi (12030) | Amritsar Junction | New Delhi | 23:05 | 16:55 | YYYYNYY |
| 27 | Amritsar Shtbdi (12031) | New Delhi | Amritsar Junction | 13:35 | 07:20 | NNNNYNN |
| 28 | Amritsar Shtbdi (12032) | Amritsar Junction | New Delhi | 23:05 | 16:55 | NNNNYNN |
| 29 | Cnb Ndls Sht (12033) | Kanpur Central | New Delhi | 11:15 | 06:00 | NYYYYYY |
| 30 | Ndls Cnb Sht (12034) | New Delhi | Kanpur Central | 20:50 | 15:55 | NYYYYYY |
| 31 | Jp Af Shatabdi (12035) | Jaipur Junction | Agra Fort | 10:35 | 07:05 | YYYYNYY |
| 32 | Af Jp Shatbdi (12036) | Agra Fort | Jaipur Junction | 22:20 | 18:00 | YYYYNYY |
| 33 | Ndls Ldh Shatabdi (12037) | New Delhi | Ludhiana Junction | 12:25 | 07:00 | YNYYYYN |
| 34 | Ldh Ndls Shatabdi (12038) | Ludhiana Junction | New Delhi | 22:10 | 16:40 | YNYYYYN |
| 35 | Kgm Anvt Shatabdi (12039) | Kathgodam | Delhi Anand Vihar Terminal | 21:15 | 15:45 | YYYYNYY |
| 36 | Anvt Kgm Shatabdi (12040) | Delhi Anand Vihar Terminal | Kathgodam | 11:50 | 06:15 | YYYYNYY |
| 37 | Shatabdi Express (12041) | Kolkata Howrah Junction | New Jalpaiguri | 22:20 | 14:15 | NYYYYYY |
| 38 | Njp Hwh Shatabd (12042) | New Jalpaiguri | Kolkata Howrah Junction | 13:35 | 05:35 | NYYYYYY |
| 39 | Ndls Moga Shatabdi (12043) | New Delhi | Moga | 14:05 | 07:00 | NYNNNNY |
| 40 | Ndls Shatabdi (12044) | Moga | New Delhi | 22:10 | 15:00 | NYNNNNY |
| 41 | Ndls Cdg Shatabdi (12045) | New Delhi | Chandigarh Junction | 22:35 | 19:15 | NYYYYYY |
| 42 | Cdg Ndls Shatabdi (12046) | Chandigarh Junction | New Delhi | 15:20 | 12:00 | NYYYYYY |
| 43 | Shatabdi Express (12243) | Chennai Central | Coimbatore Main Junction | 14:05 | 07:15 | YYNYYYY |
| 44 | Shatabdi Express (12244) | Coimbatore Main Junction | Chennai Central | 22:15 | 15:20 | YYNYYYY |
| 45 | Satabdi Express (12277) | Kolkata Howrah Junction | Puri | 22:10 | 14:25 | YYYNYYY |
| 46 | Satabdi Express (12278) | Puri | Kolkata Howrah Junction | 13:45 | 06:00 | YYYNYYY |
| 47 | Hwh Dgha Duront (12847) | Kolkata Howrah Junction | Digha Flag Station | 14:15 | 11:15 | YYYYYYY |
| 48 | Dgha Hwh Duront (12848) | Digha Flag Station | Kolkata Howrah Junction | 18:35 | 15:35 | YYYYYYY |
| 49 | Maitree Express BR (13107) | Dhaca Cantt. | Kolkata Chitpur | 18:10 | 08:30 | NNYNNYN |
| 50 | Maitree Express (13108) | Kolkata Chitpur | Dhaca Cantt. | 18:00 | 07:10 | NNNNNNY |
| 51 | Maitree Express (13109) | Kolkata Chitpur | Dhaca Cantt. | 18:00 | 07:10 | NNYNNNN |
| 52 | Maitree Express IR (13110) | Dhaca Cantt. | Kolkata Chitpur | 18:10 | 08:30 | YNNNNNN |
| 53 | Kcg Double Deck (22119) | Tirupati Main | Hyderabad Kacheguda | 17:15 | 05:45 | YNNNYNN |
| 54 | Tpty Double Dec (22120) | Hyderabad Kacheguda | Tirupati Main | 18:15 | 06:45 | NNNYNNY |
Jan Shatabdi Express
Jan Shatabdi Express, which means common man’s Shatabdi Express, is another series of fast passenger trains introduced by Indian Railways. This is a variant of Shatabdi, but Jan Shatabdi trains are more affordable for passengers. They offer travel in three classes (both AC and Non-AC), namely AC Chair Car (CC), Executive Chair Car (EC), and Second Seating (2S). As mentioned earlier, Shatabdi trains don’t offer travel in 2S classes. Likewise, Jan Shatabdi train tickets don’t include food, but you can avail onboard catering services to order food. Currently, there are 23 pairs of Jan Shatabdi trains operating across India, connecting many major cities and towns.
Shatabdi Trains FAQs:
Q: Can I travel in Shatabdi trains without prior reservation?
A: No. Shatabdi trains don’t have any unreserved or general classes in which you can travel without prior reservation. However, some Shatabdi trains have a current booking system that allows you to book tickets until 2 hours prior to the departure time. Even the ticket booked on the current booking system will have your seat number mentioned on it.
Q: What is the difference between CC and EC classes in Shatabdi trains?
A: CC stands for AC Chair Car while EC stands for Executive AC Chair Car. While both these are AC coaches, EC coaches are more spacious and offer passengers more legroom as compared to CC. Moreover, CC coaches have a 2×3 seating (with five seats in a row) arrangement while EC coaches have a 2×2 seating arrangement (with four seats in a row). The quantity and quality of food and the quality of services in these two travel classes are also different.
Q: Do I have to pay extra for food in Shatabdi trains?
A: No. The price of the food served on board is included in the ticket charges.
Q: Can I choose my food preference in Shatabdi trains?
A: Yes, when you book your Shatabdi train tickets, you can choose vegetarian or non-vegetarian as your food preference. However, you cannot decide the menu as the food will be served to you according to a pre-decided menu.
Q: Do I get all three meals – breakfast, lunch, and dinner – when I travel in Shatabdi trains?
A: No. Depending on your boarding time and journey duration, you will be served one or more of these. For instance, in the Bangalore-Chennai Shatabdi that starts at 6:00 am and reaches its destination at 11, you will be served morning coffee and breakfast. On the other hand, in the Chennai-Bangalore Shatabdi that departs at 5:30 pm, you will be served high tea and dinner.
Q: Do I get food if I boarded from an intermediate station?
A: The onboard catering services in Shatabdi Expresses have fixed timings for serving food. So depending on your time of boarding, you will be served one or more meals. Catering charges (which is included in the ticket) also differ for passengers boarding from intermediate stations.
Q: What is Anubhuti Class? Is it available in all Shatabdi trains?
A: Anubhuti (EA) is a new travel class introduced by Indian Railways in Shatabdi trains. This is a luxury Chair Car class, more like the business class in flights, with more space and legroom. Each seat is equipped with an infotainment screen, just like in flights. Anubhuti coaches also have plush upholstery, seats with better ergonomics, reading lights, and a call button for attendants. Currently, this class is available on select routes like Delhi-Chandigarh, Chennai-Mysuru, etc.
Q: Will there be a difference in price if I choose to forgo meals?
A: Yes. You can choose to skip the food by opting for the ‘No Food’ option while booking tickets. The charges for onboard catering will be deducted from the total ticket cost, in that case.
Q: Can I book Shatabdi train tickets on Tatkal or Premium Tatkal quota?
A: Yes.
Q: Is Tatkal quota available for EC and EA coaches?
A: Yes. Indian Railways has brought the executive classes in Shatabdi trains – EC and EA – under the Tatkal scheme.
Q: Can I avail senior citizen concession in Shatabdi trains?
A: Yes. Senior citizens can avail concession in Shatabdi trains. The concession, however, is not applicable when you book your tickets through Tatkal or Premium Tatkal quota.
Q: Why is the ticket fare different yesterday and today on the same Shatabdi train and for the same route?
A: Indian Railways has introduced the system of dynamic pricing in a few Shatabdi trains on an experimental basis. As per this system, the ticket prices increase by 10% with every 10% of the tickets booked. That is, if a train has 100 seats, the first 10 seats can be booked at the original price and then, the price starts increasing with every 10% of the bookings till 50% of the seats are booked. If you see a difference in Shatabdi prices, it means that the seats are filling fast.
Q: Is dynamic pricing or the flexi fare system applicable to all travel classes in Shatabdi?
A: No. It is applicable only to the AC Chair Car (CC) class. Other travel classes like EC and EA have fixed fare.
Q: How is the Tatkal charge calculated in trains with dynamic pricing system? Do I have to pay Tatkal charges as well as dynamic price charges?
A: There is no separate Tatkal fee in Shatabdi coaches where the dynamic or flexi fare system is applied. The seats in these coaches under the Tatkal Quota will be assigned to passengers with 50% of the base fare added as dynamic price charges. For instance, if the base fare is ₹500 for CC class, then ₹250 will be added as dynamic price charges at the time of Tatkal reservation. No Tatkal charges will be levied from you additionally. However, since the dynamic pricing system is not applicable to EC and EA classes of Shatabdi trains, Tatkal booking in these coaches will attract Tatkal fee that is 30% of the base fare or ₹400, whichever is the lowest.
Q: Are there any special quotas – like Ladies Quota – available in Shatabdi Expresses?
A: Yes. Ladies Quota is available on the CC class of Shatabdi expresses. This, however, is not applicable to EC and EA classes.