Mamata flags off Sealdah-Delhi Duronto train

The country's first point-to-point, non-stop train, Duronto Express was on Friday flagged off from Sealdah station by Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee as a 'Durga puja' gift to the people.

The Duronto, which is faster than the Rajdhani Express, will cover the 1447-km distance between Sealdah and New Delhi in 16 hours 20 minutes.

The 16-coach train comprises one AC-1, three AC-II, four AC-III and five AC-III (economy) coaches.

Banerjee, who had announced the introduction of the express train to select cities in the railway budget this year, flagged it off at 5.00 pm.

The super-fast train will have no commercial stop, but has three operational stops at Dhanbad, Moghalsarai and Kanpur Central.

The bi-weekly train will leave Sealdah every Thursday and Sunday and from New Delhi on Friday and Monday.

The train will leave Sealdah at 6.40 pm and reach New Delhi at 11.00 am. The down train will leave New Delhi at 8.05 pm and arrive at Sealdah at 12.25 pm.

The fares are: Rs 3,295 for AC-I, 1,880 for AC-II, Rs 1,390 for AC-III and Rs 1335 for AC-III(economy).