This train has horrible punctuality. Let me recall the horrible experience I had to face when I chose this train to travel from BBS to HWH:

1. Before going to sleep at night, I got a message that my train is 25 mins late at Renigunta and is likely to make up. I however estimated that it will be delayed even more and woke up accordingly the next morning to find that the delay has increased to 2 hours. I departed my residence accordingly
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2. Once I reached BBS station, I found out that the train has been delayed further and no SMS reached me. Even the authority at BBS station was clueless and the first class waiting room display board kept displaying the wrong information regarding the arrival time. Finally it reached BBS at 1 pm(delayed by three hours).

3. On the road, the train was moving as if it was a passenger train with it being halted unnecessarily at various places. Finally, after a massive delay of FIVE hours, the train finally reached Howrah at 9 pm.

My suggestion would be to avoid this train while travelling. If possible, always go for Duronto(even though it's punctuality has also decreased) if you are boarding from Renigunta, YPR, VZM, BBS etc. Especially from BBS, you have numerous other options and so please avoid this train. Keep it as a last resort.

Worst train to travel from North east states to Delhi.
It always arrives late in night at awkward hours. And is always swarming with unreserved passengers and WL travellers , all thanks to lots of halts. Instead if have to travel in SL class then opt the Poorvattar sampark kranti. That Train also is poor in punctuality , but still it always arrives delhi by evening 6-7 pm which far more better than Northeast Express which always arrives Delhi by 10.30-11 pm or sometimes even 1-2 am.
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then always prefer Rajdhani. Most punctual , time saving and worth the money spend.