- Connection
- Covered skywalk from Ajmeri Gate side, opened March 2022
- Lines
- Airport Express + Yellow Line at New Delhi metro
- Tickets
- Separate paid metro ride - token or metro card
- Buffer
- Keep generous time between train and flight
If your train rolls into New Delhi (NDLS) and your flight leaves from Delhi's IGI airport, the Airport Express metro line is the usual rail link between the two - and the good news is that the railway station and the metro station are directly connected. This guide explains where to go, what the walk involves, and how much slack to leave.
One scope note: this article covers New Delhi (NDLS) only. If your train terminates at Old Delhi or Hazrat Nizamuddin instead, the onward route to the Airport Express is different - check our other station-transfer guides.
Where the Airport Express starts
The Airport Express (Orange) Line starts at New Delhi metro station and runs to the IGI airport area (Terminal 3) before continuing towards Dwarka. The New Delhi metro station sits on the Ajmeri Gate side of the railway station - the side where the higher-numbered platforms, including platform 16, come out. Routes and station names can change over time, so confirm the line on the DMRC network map before you travel.
The walk between train and metro
You do not have to come out onto the road and dodge traffic with your bags. A 242-metre covered skywalk, opened in March 2022, links the Ajmeri Gate side of New Delhi railway station directly to the New Delhi metro station, which serves both the Yellow Line and the Airport Express Line. NDTV's report and the Hindustan Times describe it as an extension of the station's foot over bridge, with escalators and CCTV, and with entry and exit points towards the multi-level parking across Bhavbhuti Marg. Follow signs towards Ajmeri Gate and the metro after you get down from your train.
Tickets and timing
The Airport Express is a separate, paid metro ride - your train ticket does not cover it, so buy a separate Airport Express ticket through a currently supported DMRC option, and check current fares, first and last train timings on DMRC's site before your travel day. As practical advice rather than any official rule: trains can arrive late, and you still have the walk, metro security check and ticketing ahead of you, so keep a generous buffer between your train's scheduled arrival and any flight check-in deadline instead of planning a tight connection.
With elderly travellers or heavy bags
The March 2022 opening reports describe the skywalk as escalator-equipped, but equipment can be under maintenance on any given day, and you will still be walking a fair distance with luggage. If anyone in your group finds stairs or long walks hard, ask railway or DMRC staff on the day about the easiest route, and consider a prepaid or app cab from the station to cut the walk - a cab is not automatically step-free, so confirm boarding help and accessibility needs when you book.
Quick questions
Which side of New Delhi station is the Airport Metro on? The Ajmeri Gate side - the same side as the higher-numbered platforms. A covered skywalk opened in March 2022 links that side directly to the New Delhi metro station, which serves the Airport Express and Yellow Lines.
Do I need to come out on the main road to reach the metro? No - since March 2022 the skywalk connects the station's foot over bridge to the metro station, so you can stay off the road. Follow the Ajmeri Gate and metro signs from your platform.
Is my train ticket valid on the Airport Express? No - the Airport Express is a separate paid metro ride. Buy a separate Airport Express ticket through a currently supported DMRC option, and check current fares and timings on DMRC's site before you travel.
How much time should I keep between train and flight? There is no safe fixed number - trains can be late, and the walk, security and ticketing all take time. Keep a generous buffer rather than a tight connection, and add more if you are travelling with elderly family or heavy luggage.
A Miranda House graduate and lawyer who traded courtrooms for slow travel. Cheshta travels with the batches we host ourselves, with a soft spot for travelling alongside elders.
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