Passengers had a very special day as they boarded the Howrah-New Delhi Rajdhani Express on Sunday as it was the golden jubilee run of the train. The passengers were greeted and were duly taken care by the Railway staff at the Howrah station on this occasion.

Passengers travelling by Rajdhani appreciated its 50 years of comfortable services and in the future, they hope to further improvement in the functioning of railways.

The country's first Rajdhani Express, which revolutionized Indian Railways by way of speed and luxury in the 1960s, turned 50 Sunday as the flower-bedecked train chugged out of Howrah station on its golden jubilee run.

An Eastern Railway (ER) official said that the Kolkata-New Delhi Rajdhani Express embarked on its maiden journey on 3 March 1969 from Howrah, making it the country's first fully-air-conditioned, high-speed train that covered the 1,450 km stretch in 17 hours and 20 minutes.

Senior officers of ER, including its general manager Harindra Rao, were present at platform number 9, which has been the birthing place of Rajdhani Express since inception.

Passengers of the golden jubilee run of the train were treated to some of its old delicacies like fish fry or vegetable cutlets and 'rosogollas' apart from ice cream for dessert, said IRCTC (East) general manager Debasish Chandra.

Women passenger said:  "I have been travelling in Rajdhani for last many years and there is nothing new for me. But I am very happy that my ticket is confirmed on the day the train completed its 50 years and the hospitality is admirable," she said.

In 1969 Rajdhani Express service was started from Howrah. Marking the 50 years of Rajdhani Express on Sunday Eastern Railway welcomed the passengers by giving rose and greeting cards. A  Special stamp marking the 50th year of Rajdhani was unveiled and a cake was also cut at Howrah station by the General Manager Eastern Railway