Delhi to Agra by Gatimaan Express

Take the Gatimaan Express 12050 from Hazrat Nizamuddin at 08:10 if you want the fastest train to Agra: it reaches Agra Cantt at 09:50, 100 minutes later.^[1] It has only two classes, Executive Chair Car and AC Chair Car, so there are no berths, and it runs six days a week, every day except Friday.^[2][3]

The return train 12049 leaves Agra Cantt at 17:35 and arrives at Hazrat Nizamuddin at 19:30.^[1] That gives you about 7 hours 45 minutes in Agra between the two trains, which is why this pair works as a day trip.^[1]

Which train to take

Gatimaan is a through train to Jhansi. It stops only at Agra Cantt, Gwalior Junction and Jhansi Junction, covers the 404 km from Hazrat Nizamuddin in 4 hours 25 minutes and passes Raja ki Mandi, Agra's second station, without stopping.^[1] Indian Railways launched it in April 2016 as its first semi high-speed train, with a top speed of 160 km/h.^[3]

Two other fast morning trains start from the Delhi side. The Bhopal Shatabdi 12002 leaves New Delhi at 06:00 and arrives at Agra Cantt at 07:50. The Taj Express 12280 leaves New Delhi at 06:55, calls at Hazrat Nizamuddin at 07:06 and arrives at Agra Cantt at 09:25. Measured from their own Delhi departure, Gatimaan takes 100 minutes, the Shatabdi 110 and the Taj Express 150. Only the Shatabdi gets you to Agra before 08:00.^[1]

Recent runs were not always on time. On 17 and 18 October, 12050 reached Agra Cantt 26 and 16 minutes behind schedule.^[1]

Classes

Executive Chair Car (EC) is the upper class and AC Chair Car (CC) the standard one. IRCTC publishes separate catering menus for both on the Gatimaan Express, a breakfast menu and an evening snacks menu.^[2] The Executive breakfast adds items such as cornflakes with milk and yoghurt that the Chair Car breakfast does not list.^[2] At launch the train ran with two Executive and eight AC Chair Car coaches of the newer LHB type, and IRCTC provides the catering.^[3] Fares depend on class and date and are shown by IRCTC when you search.

How to book

Book on the IRCTC website or app. The general booking window is 60 days before the journey date, not counting the day of travel, and some daytime express trains use a shorter window, so look at the dates IRCTC offers for 12050 and 12049.^[4]

Foreign visitors can use the Foreign Tourist Quota in the IRCTC account. It opens up to 365 days ahead, needs a passport number for each passenger and accepts international debit and credit cards. EC and CC are among the classes available under this quota.^[5] IRCTC charges a service fee of Rs 200 plus GST per ticket, and the profile registration for international users costs Rs 100 plus GST. Cancellations lose 50% of the fare on top of the normal cancellation charges.^[5]

Stations

Gatimaan starts at Hazrat Nizamuddin, not New Delhi. On the Taj Express route Hazrat Nizamuddin is 7 km beyond New Delhi, so allow time to get there.^[1] In Agra the train uses Agra Cantt, the station you want for the city.

Beyond Agra

After Agra, 12050 continues to Gwalior Junction at 11:07 and ends at Jhansi Junction at 12:35. In the other direction 12049 leaves Jhansi at 15:00 and calls at Gwalior at 16:03.^[1] North Central Railway lists the train as the Nizamuddin to Virangana Lakshmibai Jhansi Gatimaan Express, running six days a week.^[6]