Vaishali Express

The 12553 / 12554 Vaishali Express is a daily Superfast train service, connecting Saharsa in Bihar to New Delhi. This train is one of the oldest train in this route. Earlier it was known as Muzaffarpur–New Delhi Jayanti Jayanta Express.

It is the first train after Bhopal Express to be certified for quality at the ISO 9000 level. It connects the major cities of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh like Saharsa, Barauni, Samastipur, Muzaffarpur, Hajipur,Siwan, Deoria, Chhapra, Gorakhpur,

Lucknow and Kanpur with the national capital New Delhi. The aged ICF coach of the train were replaced with LHB coach during first week of May 2018, increasing its speed limit to 130 km/h.

This train is hauled by CNB (Kanpur)-based WAP-7 from end-to-end.(New Delhi–Saharsa)

History
It first ran between New Delhi and Muzaffarpur and was later extended to Barauni. It was later extended to Saharsa from 5 March 2019.

Coaches and facilities
This train has 4 dedicated rakes. It runs with 22 LHB coach.

2 End on generators on both ends

1 AC First Class (H1)

2 AC Two Tier (A1 to A2)

3E AC (M1)

3 AC Three Tier (B1 to B6)

6 Sleeper (S1 to S6)

3 Unreserved coaches

and a pantry car

Route & halts
It is runs from Shahara Junction via Mansi Junction, Khagaria Junction, Barauni, Samastipur, Hajipur, Chhapra Junction, Siwan Junction, Gorakhpur, Gonda Junction, Kanpur Central, Etawah, Tundla Junction to New Delhi.

Traction
It is hauled by a Kanpur Loco Shed based WAP-7 electric locomotive from end to end.

Award
Vaishali Express was awarded ISO 9000 on 1 May 2012.

Accidents
On November 16, 2023, a Vaishali Express train caught fire in Etawah, Uttar Pradesh, India. 21 people were injured.