I remember this train once shot up to WL #400 as soon as the ticketing period opened. This was when the holidays in Kota coaching institutes were announced. Regular pax then told how this train back then[~10 years back] had easy availability of tickets and the high WL was an aberration. It didn't used to have H1 or this many AC coaches in the ICF era.
I think, if we go even back, when it was introduced, this was Lucknow- Mathura Express before being extended at both ends though I am...
more... not 100% sure of this.
please wait...Translate to EnglishBack in the day, this train went from having plenty of tickets available to shooting up to WL #400 in a flash when the Kota coaching holidays were around. The OG passengers used to spill the tea that the train used to be a piece of cake to catch a ride on ~10 years ago, with crazy waitlists being a rare sight. H1 and all these AC coaches weren't even a thing during the ICF era, man. Thinking about it, I believe this bad boy initially ran as the Lucknow-Mathura Express before getting extended on both ends, but not totally certain, ya dig?
please wait...Translate to HindiMain yaad karta hu ki ek baar yeh train ka WL number 400 tak badh gaya tha ticket booking ke dauran. Yeh tab hua jab holidays announce hue the Kota coaching institutes mein. Tab ke regular passengers ne bataya ki train pe tickets asaani se mil jaate the aur itni zyada high WL exception thi. Us zamane mein isme H1 coach ya itni saari AC coaches nahi hoti thi ICF era mein.
Mujhe lagta hai, agar hum aur peeche jaye, jab yeh introduce hui thi, toh yeh Lucknow-Mathura Express thi pehle phir dono taraf extend hui lekin main isme 100% sure nahi hoon.