Hazrat Nizamuddin–Pune Duronto Express

The 12263 / 12264 Hazrat Nizamuddin–Pune Duronto Express is a Superfast Express train of Indian Railways Duronto Express type connecting Hazrat Nizamuddin (NZM) to Pune (PUNE). It is currently being operated with train numbers 12263 / 12264.

Coach composition
The rake has 10 AC 3 tier coaches, 3 AC 2 tier coaches, 1 AC First Class, 1 Pantry car and 2 EOG cars making a total of 17 coaches. The train is similar to Pune–Ahmedabad Duronto. Earlier train was of 16 coaches with ICF Rajdani rakes. It had speed of 130 kmph.

Background
This train had its inaugural run on 28 September 2009. It currently runs with new LHB Rajdhani rakes, which were allotted to it recently. It is one of 3 Duronto Express trains running out of Pune Junction, the other trains being the 12221/22 Pune–Howrah Duronto Express & 12297/98 Pune–Ahmedabad Duronto Express. It travels at a peak speed of 130 km/h with an average speed of 76 km/h as 12263 and 75 km/h as 12264.

Service
It is the fastest train on the Delhi–Pune sector. It averages 76.96 km/h as 12263 Duronto Express covering 1520 km in 19 hrs 45 mins & in 20 hrs 45 mins averaging 73.25 km/h as 12264 Duronto Express.

Some of the other trains that cover the Delhi–Pune sectors are 12629/30 Karnataka Sampark Kranti Express, 11077/78 Jhelum Express, 12779/80 Goa Express, 12781/82 Swarna Jayanti Express.

Route
The train halts at Kota Junction, Ratlam Junction, Vadodara Junction, Surat, Vasai Road in both directions.

Traction
At its introduction, it was hauled by a WCAM-2/2P or WCAM-3 locomotives of the Kalyan Shed from Pune to Vadodara Junction after which a Tughlakabad or Vadodara-based WAP-7 or Ghaziabad-based WAP-5 used to haul the train for the remainder of its journey. This was due to DC traction on the Central Line in Mumbai region. Now it is hauled end to end by Vadodara or Tuglakabad WAP 7, as an offlink Ajni WAP 7 hauls it.

With a complete changeover from DC to AC in 2014, it is currently hauled end to end by a Tughlakabad-based WAP-7 locomotive.