Sealdah–Bikaner Duronto Express

The 12259 / 12260 Sealdah - Bikaner Duronto Express is a premium train of the Duronto Express category belonging to Indian Railways - Eastern Railway zone that runs between Sealdah and Bikaner in India.It operates as train number 12259 from Sealdah to Bikaner and as train number 12260 in the reverse direction serving the states of West Bengal, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Haryana and Rajasthan. It used to run as New Delhi - Sealdah Duronto Express and was the first Duronto Express to be launched as announced in the Railway budget of 2008/09. On 24 February 2020, it was extended beyond New Delhi to Bikaner, thereby becoming not only the first Duronto service to Bikaner but also one connecting New Delhi and Bikaner. It was the fastest Duronto Express in India when it operated from Sealdah to New Delhi.

Coaches
The 12259 / 60 Sealdah Bikaner Duronto Express presently has one AC First Class, four AC 2 tier, twelve AC 3 tier, two End on Generator Car & one Pantry car coach.

As is customary with most train services in India, Coach Composition may be amended at the discretion of Indian Railways depending on demand.

Service
The 12259 Sealdah Bikaner Duronto Express covers the distance of 1,921 km in 25 hours 20 minutes, at an average speed of 76 km/h, and in 25 hours 0 minutes as 12260 Bikaner Sealdah Duronto Express, an average speed of 77 km/h. As the average speed of the train is above 55 km/h, as per Indian Railways rules, its fare includes a superfast surcharge.

Routing and technical halts
The 12259/12260 Sealdah - Bikaner Duronto Express runs from Sealdah via Dhanbad Junction, PT. Deen Dayal Upadhyay Junction, Kanpur Central, New Delhi, Loharu, Sadulpur, Churu, Ratangarh to Bikaner Junction

Traction
As the route is fully electrified, and thus the three rakes of 12259/12260 Seadah - Bikaner Duronto Express is hauled by a Howrah based WAP 7,Sealdah based WAP 7(HOG) equipped locomotive from Sealdah to Bikaner Junction and vice versa.

Termination
The train was terminated by Indian Railways after its final run from Bikaner to Sealdah on 24 May 2021, due to low occupancy and safety compromises amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. The train again started its run from 9 June 2021.