The first version of this train was inaugurated on 26 October 1996 as Guwahati Rajdhani Express which ran via Barauni. It was flagged off by
Ram Vilas Paswan (former Minister of Railways) which runs as a weekly service.[1] The frequency was later increased to tri-weekly in 1997.[2]
Later, on 11 January 1999, the Second set of Guwahati Rajdhani Express was inaugurated which runs through Chhapra. It was flagged off by
Nitish Kumar (former Minister of Railways) which runs as a bi-weekly service.
After that, on 24 March 2010, the third set of Guwahati Rajdhani Express was inaugurated which runs through Muzaffarpur. It was flagged off by
Mamata Banerjee (former Minister of Railways) which runs as a weekly service.[3]
Later due to public demand in 2012, The three sets of Rajdhani was extended up to Dibrugarh and runs as Dibrugarh Rajdhani Express and also the frequency of First Set was increased to daily service.[4][5]
February 2021: 20503/04 Dibrugarh Rajdhani frequency increased to 5 days a week from Weekly.[6]
All set of Dibrugarh Rajdhani Express (except for the third set of Dibrugarh Rajdhani Express numbered 20505/20506) are hauled by a
Diesel Loco Shed, Siliguri-based
WDP-4 /
WDP-4B /
WDP-4D diesel locomotive from Dibrugarh to
Guwahati, after Guwahati it is hauled by an
Electric Loco Shed, Ghaziabad-based
WAP-7 electric locomotive until New Delhi and vice versa. In case of 20505/20506, the
WAP-7 hauls the train from New Delhi to Rangiya and vice versa and the
Diesel Loco Shed, Siliguri-based
WDP-4 /
WDP-4B /
WDP-4D diesel locomotive takes over for its journey from Rangiya to Dibrugarh and vice versa.
Derailment
On 25 June 2014, this train derailed in
Chhapra,
Bihar, killing four people and seriously injuring eight.[7] Sabotage by
Naxalites was considered but ruled out as the cause of the crash.[8] Also, on 6 December 2016 derailed in Allipurduar district of west Bengal.
Gallery
12423 Dibrugarh Rajdhani Express in New Delhi.
02423 Dibrugarh Rajdhani COVID-19 Special with SGUJ WDP4 arriving Katihar
02423 Dibrugarh Rajdhani COVID-19 Special with GZB WAP7 arriving Katihar
02423 Dibrugarh Rajdhani (COVID-19 AC Special) leaving Katihar