The next journey of the Deccan Odyssey, a luxurious and expensive five-star train, will offer commuters a 25% discount. Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) has offered the sop to attract rich Indian travellers.

The train will leave Mumbai on January 30 and return on February 6. It will take passengers to the pristine beaches of Sindhudurg and Goa, apart from historical marvels in Aurangabad (Ellora), Jalgaon ( Ajanta) and forests in Kolhapur and Nashik as well. 

The train is popular among foreigners, especially Germans and the French.

According to an estimate by tourism corporation officials, Indian travellers contribute hardly 5% of the total passengers. The MTDC officials believe the primary reason for the poor number of Indian travellers is the steeply priced tickets, which comes down to around Rs4 lakh (including taxes) for a seven-day trip.

Deccan Odyssey, run jointly by Deccan Odyssey and the Maharashtra government, is the second such train to be introduced in the country in 2005, after Palace on Wheels run by Rajasthan tourism department.Read Full Article at Daily News

Indian luxury train, The Royal Rajasthan on Wheels, still has a lot of departures left this season. The current RROW season will come to an end in March with its final departure on Marc 31. Some reasons for for this more than decent performance of RROW have been attributed to the improved, revised itinerary that has enabled a lot more sightseeing time than earlier. IRCTC has also introduced some fabulous offers where it is offering 2 Nights’ complimentary stay in a luxury accommodation.

Launched in 2009, the Royal Rajasthan on Wheels is owned and managed by Rajasthan Tourism and Development Corporation (RTDC) in partnership with IRCTC. The luxury train boasts of 13 Deluxe Saloons named after Rajput palaces such as Chandra Mahal, Hawa Mahal, Moti Mahal, Surya Mahal, Jal Mahal, Sukh Mahal, Kishori Mahal, Padmini Mahal, Jogi Mahal, Phool Mahal, Umaid Palace, Kumbha Palace and Lalgarh Palace. The only Super Deluxe Saloon is aptly named after the majestic Taj Mahal. Read More.....

The Golden Chariot, one of the premier luxury trains in India, is offering its two itineraries across South India at highly discounted prices this winter. The train has announced a massive slash in the existing package rates for the remainder of the season.

The new discounted prices will be applicable for the whole of the remaining season, and will be applicable on every departure. The new slashed prices are aimed at attracting middle level income households. The operators of this luxury train, KSTC in its collaboration with IRCTC, are anticipating an upbeat response from both domestic, as well as foreign tourists.

Taking cue from the legendary Palace on Wheels, Golden Chariot Luxury Train constitutes of 44 well appointed cabins which include 25 twin bed cabins, 18 double bed cabins and 1 cabin for the physically challenged. The train was the first of its kind to be disabled friendly. The train’s 14 guest carriages have all been given names after erstwhile kingdoms in Southern India - Hoyasala, Kadamba, Rastrakuta, Chalukya, Ganga, Bhahamani, Sangama, Yudukula, Adilshahi, Shathavashna and Vijayanagar. Each Each cabin is richly furnished and  well-equipped. All cabins are inspired from the architectural aesthetics of erstwhile Southern India. Each of the cabin’s interior décor boasts of contemporary amenities such as individual temperature control, LCD television, Wi-Fi internet and electronic safe, among others.Read More.......

One of Asia’s best luxury trains , the Deccan Odyssey, has earned record profits for the first time since its inauguration in 2004. The train registered a net profit of INR 65.4 lakhs last season after churnining losses one season after another for the first 8 years. 

The Odyssey had started with a loss of Rs. 31 lakhs to its name and had been doing only marginally well of late. A further investment of Rs. 18.79 crores was made to fund the train tours. A total of 52 lakhs had to be paid by the train as haulage charges for using 21 coaches in a single tour.

MTDC managing director Jagdish Patil said, “The train had a lot of potential, but it takes time to establish a luxury product like this. We have even appointed worldwide General Sales Agents (GSA) for the train. But the train operations took a hit following the 26/11 terror attacks, and safety was a major concern for us. But our aggressive marketing efforts have revived the train. We have started pan-India tours, and also requested the railways to reduce the haulage charges.” Read More.........

One of the Indian luxury trains, the Indian Maharaja has announced its schedule update for the year 2013 for its journeys. The train offers 2 week-long journeys for guests to make a choice- Delhi to Mumbai and Mumbai to Delhi. The former one begins from the Safdarjung railway Station in New Delhi, the latter one starts its journey from the Chattrapati Shivaji Terminus in Mumbai. Here is the departure schedule of the Indian Maharaja for the season starting from February 2013:

The Indian Maharaja Schedule 2013

February 2013     Wed, 6th               Mumbai to Delhi

February 2013     Wed, 20th             Mumbai to Delhi

February 2013     Wed, 13th             Delhi to Mumbai

February 2013     Wed, 27th             Delhi to Mumbai

March 2013         Wed, 6th               Mumbai to Delhi

April 2013           Wed, 3rd               Mumbai to Delhi

April 2013           Wed, 10th             Delhi to Mumbai

The Indian Maharaja took its first journey on 18th  September, 2009 and has had many successful journeys till date. While on-board, the traveler gets a chance to visit some of the amazing destinations of the country- Mumbai, Udaipur, Samai Madhopur, Jaipur, Delhi, Agra and more. The décor of the train and the cabins is luxurious where you can enjoy various modern world-class facilities like Wi-Fi, LCD TV, AC, 2 multi-cuisine restaurants, bar, sitting lounge, conference car and much more. All this makes your journey an unforgettable experience.Read More.............