I believe 'Rajdhani' trains are meant to / from National Capital (Rajdhani) to / from other places of the nation and that other place need not be a State Capital necessarily. The basic characteristics of a Rajdhani Train are:
1. Fully Air Conditioned (Centrally).
2. One end is Delhi or Nizamuddin (say Delhi).
3. Highest prority on the route.
4....
more... Snacks and Meals are inbuilt with the fair.
5. Overnight journey and hence the same rake never returns to the source on the same day.
6. Fare is defined from all covered stations to all other covered stations which includes snacks / meals (Yet KMs wise calculation is there on which applicable food loading is applied for).
7. No other journey / train can be clubbed in continuity.
8. No refunds if terminate a journey premature.
9. Fully reserved.
10. All the three Sleeper Classes exist.
11. Pantry Car(s) is/are attached.
12. Super Fast
13. Number start with '2' but can not be '20'.
On the same lines, the basic and normal characteristics of a Shatabdi Train are:
1. Fully Air Conditioned (Centrally).
2. Between any two Cities (not necesarily Capitals).
3. Prority on the route.
4. Snacks and Meals are inbuilt with the fair.
5. No overnight journey and hence the same rake compulsorily returns to the source on the same day.
6. Fare is defined from all covered stations to all other covered stations which includes snacks / meals (Yet KMs wise calculation is there on which applicable food loading is applied for).
7. No other journey / train can be clubbed in continuity.
8. No refunds if terminate a journey premature.
9. Fully reserved.
10. AC Chair Cars (Ordinary and Executive) are only attached
11. Pantry Car(s) is/are attached.
12. Super Fast
13. Numbers start with '20' and third and fouth digit will normally form '01' to '50'.
On the same lines, the basic and normal characteristics of a Jan Shatabdi Train are:
1. Independent Air Conditioned coaches being ACCH and Non AC Second Class.
2. Between any two Cities (not necesarily Capitals).
3. Prority on the route after Rajdhani and Shatabdis and some other rare important runs.
4. Snacks and Meals are not inbuilt with the fair.
5. No overnight journey and hence the same rake compulsorily returns to the source on the same day.
6. Fare is with some (marginal) loading (Yet KMs wise calculation is there on which applicable food loading is applied for).
7. No other journey / train can be clubbed in continuity.
8. No refunds if terminate a journey premature.
9. Super Fast
10. Numbers start with '20'and third and fouth digit will normally form '51' to '98'.
Too all the readers, I want to clarify that all above are NORMAL and there may be slight variations in some of the characteristics I have mentioned.
I would like your comments further to specify the nature of these trains and shall never mind if some corrections (exceptions) are suggested to the above, please.
- S K Jain
