New Delhi to Kolkata Train Preference
1) 12302 NDLS-HWH Raj
India's first Raj; the ER king is still the first priority for anyone travelling on this route; no questions asked.
2) 12314 NDLS-SDAH Raj
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more... Taking largely the same route and same timings as the HWH Raj; there is not much difference between the two. Mostly an item of personal preference when booking.
3) 12260 SDAH Duronto
India's first Duronto and theoretically taking lesser time any of the Rajdhanis,it still gets lesser priority than the Rajdhanis and may get delayed; still a good option for travelling[pure LHB coaches].
4)12274 HWH Duronto
First train on the list to also have SL coaches; has a good TT between NDLS and HWH, but suffering from lack of priority from controllers; also has hybrid -LHB instead of pure LHB.
5)12304/12382 Poorva Exp
Tough choice between this and the legendary Kalka Mail; this wins because of LHB rakes and more punctuality than the Mail(also has better railfanning opportunities since it faces OT by all the east bound Rajdhanis).
6)12324 ANVT-HWH Exp
Takes lesser time than the Poorva exp and runs with a better TT(morning arrival at Howrah); though lacks a PC(pantry car); maybe considered over the Poorva in some cases[LHB rakes as well].
7)12312 Kalka Mail
Historically the most important train running on this route; this train(used to run as 01 UP/02 DN) has been degraded by the IR in recent years; runs delayed very often. Has a good morning arrival at HWH though.
7)12250 ANVT-HWH Yuva exp
A weekly train; on paper the fastest on the route; though not given high priority. Also the fact that it lacks a PC and has very low stoppages makes it worse[ICF rake and personally don't feel like travelling overnight in a chair car].
8)12330 WB Sampark Kranti Exp
Faster than either the Poorva or the Kalka Mail, but has a bad arrival time at Sealdah(evening arrival, may be a problem if it gets delayed too much).
9)13008 Toofan Exp
One word, don't. There is no reason to travel by this train(especially end to end). Takes 36 hours to cover the distance; has a bad TT(evening arrival at Howrah and it will get delayed). Too many stoppages in between.
10)22858 ANVT-SRC Exp
Originally ran as a special; later regularized as a weekly. Hugely delayed and goes via the longer TATA-KGP route; use it as a last resort.
11)13120 DLI-SDAH Exp
A super crawler; taking a mammoth 41 hours to cover the distance; runs without a Pantry Car.
12)13132 ANVT-KOAA Exp
Purchase a cycle and start cycling towards Calcutta. You'll reach there before this train. Taking 40 hours to cover the distance, still horribly delayed by 10+ hours, cancelled every other day, no pantry car[will possibly get LHB in 100 years].
