Anubhuti coaches providing higher comfort to passengers

NEW DELHI: Chandigarh Shatabdi will be the first train to have "Anubhuti" coaches, the special AC luxury class proposed in this year's rail budget, providing higher travel comfort to passengers. 

Railways will roll out 10 state-of-the-art AC coaches from Rae Bareli coach factory by October. 

"We will be beginning the Anubhuti trial with Chandigarh Shatabdi to be followed with Jaipur Shatabdi. Later on, all Shatabdi trains will be equipped with one Anubhuti coach in a phase-wise manner," said a senior Railway Ministry official. 

Anubhuti, the first of its kind modern LHB coach with ergonomically designed cushioned seats, LCD screens, modular toilets and world class interiors is estimated to cost about Rs 2.80 crore. Currently, it costs about Rs 2.5 crore for manufacturing a LHB coach. 

He said similarly one Rajdhani train will be selected for introduction of Anubhuti coach to be followed by all other 23 Rajdhani services. Mail and express trains will also be equipped with Anubhuti coaches in a gradual manner. 

While AC 1 Executive Class has 56 seats in Shatabdi, new design Anubhuti with automatic opening and closing of internal doors will have about 50 seats only. 

Asked about the fare for travelling in Anubhuti class, he said "the fare will be more than the AC 1 Class in Shatabdi train" and added "the aim is to provide an excellent ambience and latest modern facilities and services with commensurate fare structure." 

Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal, who had proposed the Anubhuti coach in his maiden Rail Budget, visited the Coach Care Centre at the New Delhi Railway Station to inspect the proto type of special coach recently. 

Besides special coaches, Railways will also manufacture 4,500 HP diesel locomotive fitted with compact AC unit in loco pilots' cabin. 

The first-ever locomotive fitted with AC in driver's cabin is estimated to cost Rs 12 crore and aims to provide relief to loco pilots on duty. Railways have proposed to create such improved cabins in all the locos in a phased manner.

Source : http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/

Golden Chariot Train

Golden Chariot, the luxury train run by Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation (KSTDC), in collaboration with Indian railways is all set to include Andhra Pradesh in its itinerary.

According to a KSTDC source, “Hyderabad was keen to be included in the Golden Chariot itinerary. So KSTDC why not? By entering Andhra Pradesh, the luxury train will now complete the entire Southern Triangle touching all the four southern states - Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala.”

The project will however take two years to implement as it has to be done without disturbing the existing routes and railway tracks will also have to be laid.

The Golden Chariot, named after the famous Stone Chariot at Hampi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Karnataka presently has two routes charted out. The Pride of the South itinerary over 8 days/7 nights begins every Monday from Bengaluru and traverses through Mysore, visiting Srirangapatna, Mysore Palace, the Nagarhole National Park (Kabini) and continuing to the historical sites of Shravanabelagola, Belur - the 11th century cradle of Hoysala architecture and a World Heritage Site, Halebid, Hampi and thereafter entering into the triangular heritage site of Badami, Pattadakal, Aihole, and finally the beaches of Goa before ending in Bengaluru.

The second route, Southern Splendour of 7 nights/8 days covers Bengaluru - Chennai - Puducherry - Tanjavur - Madurai -Thiruvananthpuram - Kanyakumari - Kovalam - Alleppey and Kochi.

Source- http://travel.financialexpress.com/sections/market-section/1220-golden-chariot-set-to-include-andhra-pradesh-in-itinerary

Palace on Wheels Train

India’s first luxury tourist train, running for more than 30 years, Palace on Wheels will soon enter into refurbishing and maintenance mode for the upcoming run season. But there is a good news for the connoisseurs of luxury train travel. The April departures of this Indian luxury train will have a 25% rebate on the total ticket price. The four departure dates in the month of April are as follows- 3rd April, 10th April, 17th April and 24th April. The departure schedule is given on the website of the Indian luxury trains. 

Launched on 26th January, 1982, Palace on Wheels was  designed to introduce the art of luxury train traveling in India. When launched, the train was composed of the original rail carriages of the erstwhile Indian monarchs and were later replaced with the replica carriages to accommodate the technological advancement. The 14 guest carriages of this luxury tourist train display a marvelous intermingle of traditional décor and state  of the art amenities and can play host to 88 people in all. 

The 8 days and 7 night  journey offered by the Palace on Wheels train traverses the course of erstwhile princely  states in Rajasthan along with a halt in Agra. The destinations of Rajasthan covered by this train include Jaipur, Sawai Madhopur, Chittorgarh, Udaipur, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur and Bharatpur. The weeklong journey offers a dash of forts, palaces, sand dunes and fairs and festivals. Guided off train excursions are provided at each destination where the train halts.

Source - http://www.travpr.com/pr-22227-palace-on-wheels-25-discount.html