This route from Delhi to Jammu is very important as it is a gateway to the Kashmir valley and the famous shrine of Vaishno Devi. Though many trains are plying on this route, there are some strong positives in favour of this train which makes it a strong case to consider.
The purpose of this review is to provide you with information to make that decision.If you are travelling to Vaishno Devi then do checkout our train recommendations here
Lets begin with some key information about the train.
| Train Number and Train Name | 12265 – JAT Duronto Express | |||||
| Source station | Delhi Sarai Rohilla (DEE) Scheduled Departure: 22:20 |
|||||
| Destination station | Jammu Tawi (JAT) Scheduled Arrival: 07:10 |
|||||
| Total Distance Covered (km) | 578 | |||||
| Total Travel Time (hr:mm) (including halts) | 08:50 | |||||
| Halts / Stops (Excluding Source/Destination) | 1 | |||||
| Average Speed (including halts) | 65 kmph | |||||
| Coaches | 1AC 2AC 3AC SL | |||||
| Runs on | TUE, FRI, SUN | |||||
| Cost |
|
|||||
| Return Train Number and Train Name |
|
|||||
| Runs on | MON, WED, SAT |
What we like about it:
- Speed:
The train maintains a very brisk pace throughout the journey. It takes around 8 hours and 50 minutes to complete this journey. The fastest train is the Jammu Rajdhani which takes 8 hours and 30 minutes so there is not much difference between the two.
In our opinion, this is an underrated train that one should consider.
- Punctuality:
The train is extremely punctual and reliable. If one looks at the history then it can be seen that the train is on time 85% of the time which is commendable. The train gets considerably delayed only 8% of the time.
So, if you are looking for reliability then look no further.
- Number of stops:
Being a Duronto express, there is only one scheduled stop. If you are looking to travel directly from Delhi to Jammu or vice versa then this is the ideal train. Having virtually no stops means less disturbance of people’s movement. Since this is a night train, you can sleep peacefully.
- Cost:
The train has all types of coaches right from sleeper to 1AC. It caters to every type of traveller, from budget ones to luxury. The fares are also very reasonable. Bedding can also be availed by paying a nominal fare at the time of booking.
- Availability of tickets:
Since this is a train without a lot of stops so the tickets are also available relatively easily. If you want a general ticket then you will have to book in advance but even for the last minute travellers, getting a ticket by tatkal is not impossible. On all our journeys by this train, we have booked tatkal tickets and never have we gone disappointed.
- Timing:
The timings of this train (especially from Delhi) are very convenient as it starts quite late in the day. You can easily complete your daily work and then catch this train. Even the return train starts late in the evening making it ideal. Since most of the journey happens overnight, you will be left refreshed the next day.
What we don’t like about it:
- Hygiene:
The one thing that makes it unpleasant is the lack of cleanliness on the train. Although the coaches are relatively new and the seating area is also acceptable, what is not acceptable is the condition of the toilets. We did not find any attempt made to keep them clean. Although it should be the responsibility of the passengers to keep the facility clean, we are still ages away from reaching that level.
- Location of Delhi station:
Though not a major dealbreaker but the Delhi station located in Sarai Rohilla is slightly remote and takes some effort to reach. The condition of the station is also not at the level of major stations in Delhi.
- Frequency:
The train runs only three times a week so it may not convenient for everyone.
Final Verdict
Duronto express has always plied under the radar and in the shadow of premier trains like Rajdhani and Shatabdi but there is no taking away the fact that it is as good as the others.
This train is also great value in terms of money spent on most of the parameters be it speed, punctuality, availability of tickets or the cost of the tickets. There are a few downsides, hygiene being the main issue. The hygiene issue is more pronounced on the sleeper coaches so if you have the budget then we would recommend an upgrade to the AC coaches. The other cons are not dealbreakers so you can work around them.
This train is and will remain our first choice while travelling to Jammu so it is highly recommended from our side.
Overall Rating: 4/5
