India’s first luxury train Tejas Express will hit the rails on Monday, when Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu flags off the first such train from Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST), Mumbai to Karmali in Goa.
The train—the newly designed coaches of which are capable of running at a speed of 200 kmph—will initially run at a speed of 160 km per hours owing to constraints on railway tracks.
“The coaches are manufactured at Rail Coach Factory, Kapurthala. The newly designed coaches are capable of running at a speed of 200 kmph but due to constraints related to rail tracks these coaches will run at a speed of 160 km/h. Speed potential of 200 kmph was achieved by providing steel brake disc, sintered pads, electro-pneumatic assist brake system,” a Central Railway spokesperson said.
The bright yellow-coloured chair-car has individual entertainment system, lCD screens, WiFi and food prepared by executive chefs. A network of CCTV cameras enhances the security system on board plus automatic doors. At the push of a button, an attendant would come to passengers’ seats.
The coaches have bio-vacuum toilets, water level indicators, tap sensors, hand dryers, integrated braille displays, lED TV for each passenger with phone sockets, local cuisine, celebrity chef menu, WiFi, tea and coffee vending machines, magazines, snack tables, CCTV cameras, fire & smoke detection and suppression system.
The three routes that have been planned for Tejas Express are: 22425/22426 New Delhi-Chandigarh Tejas Express (6 days a week), 12585/12586 lucknow-Anand Vihar (T) Tejas Express, 11209/11210 Mumbai CST-Karmali Tejas Express (5 days a week).
Prabhu will flag off the 22119 Mumbai CST-Karmali Tejas as Superfast inaugural Special 02119 from Mumbai CST on Monday at 3.25 pm via video conferencing from Swami Narayan Sabhagruh, Dadar. The train will reach Karmali at 12.35 am on Tuesday.
As the train arrived on platform number 18 of CST in Mumbai on Sunday for its inaugural run on Monday, there were a lot of onlookers to have a peek at the interiors of the sleek and luxury train
The booking of the train opened on Sunday or both inaugural and regular services. “The bookings for the inaugural run of Tejas train are very encouraging,” General Manager Central Central Railway DK Sharma, who inspected the new train on its arrival in Mumbai, said
After the inaugural run, the train No. 22119 Mumbai CST — Karmali , Tejas Superfast. will leave from Mumbai CST at 5am on every Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday,Saturday & Sunday (five days a week). Train will reach Karmali at 1:30 pm on same day.
The train will halt at Dadar, Thane, Panvel, Ratnagiri, Kudal and Karmali stations. It will have a total of 15 linke Hofmann Busch (lHB) coaches, 1st AC one coach, 12 CC coaches and two generator Cum SlR coaches.
The train No. 22120 Karmali - Mumbai CST, Tejas Superfast will leave from Karmali at 3:30 pm on every Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday (Five days a week). Train will reach Mumbai CST at 11 pm on same day.
However, from June 10 to October 31, 2017, the train will operate as a tri-weekly train.
Between June 10 and October 31, the Train No. 22119 Mumbai CST - Karmali, Tejas Superfast will leave from Mumbai CST at 5 am on every Monday, Wednesday & Saturday (Tri weekly). Train will reach Karmali at 3:30 pm on same day.
In the return direction, the train No. 22120 Karmali - Mumbai CST, Tejas Superfast. will leave from Karmali at 07:30 am on every Tuesday, Thursday, & Sunday (Tri weekly). Train will reach Mumbai CST at 7:45 pm on the same day.