Tejas Express, India’s first semi-high speed fully air-conditioned train, will be flagged off by Union railway minister Suresh Prabhu today (22 May) at around 3:30pm for its inaugural run from Mumbai to Goa.
The train boasts of amenities like Wi-Fi, CCTV, fire and smoke detection facilities, tea and coffee vending machine, among others. The train will run at a speed of 130 kmph and can achieve a maximum speed of 200 kmph. The train has a GPS-based passenger information display system and safety measures like suppression system, fire suppression system, smoke detection and fire detection.
The ticket fares will be cheaper than flights, authorities say. However, it will be 20 per cent higher than the Shatabdi Express. Executive class fare with food will cost Rs 2,680 per passenger, and Rs 2,525 without food. Fare for the AC chair car with food has been kept at Rs 1,280 with food, and Rs 1,155 without food. Optional on-board catering services will also be provided by the railways.
The train has been furnished with bio-vacuum toilets in all the coaches, including hand dryers, touch-less water taps and water level indicator as well.
“The ticket booking started within minutes of its opening this morning and in the first four hours, 207 passengers booked tickets for the AC chair car and 10 for executive AC chair car,” Central Railways chief commercial manager Shailendra Kumar said on Sunday (21 May).
The run will commute between Mumbai and Goa for five days a week. However, during the monsoon season between 10 June and 31 October, it will run thrice a week — Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
BW Reporters
The author is a correspondent with BW Businessworld with keen interest in HR and employee welfare.
