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. Here's a quick comparison between Tejas and Shatabdi:
• The Executive Class fare in Tejas has been fixed at Rs 2,540 without food and Rs 2,940 with food. The Chair Car is for Rs 1,850 with food and Rs 1,220 without food.
The Shatabdi fares are Rs 2,390 and Rs 1,185 in Executive Class and Chair Car respectively, including food.
• Tejas has been furnished with bio-vacuum toilets in all coaches, including hand dryers, touch-less water taps and water level indicator as well. The train boasts of a coffee vending machine along with CCTV and fire detection system.
Shatabdi is yet to introduce bio-vacuum toilets and other fire safety measures.
• Passengers in the Tejas will have the option to opt for onboard food. If a passenger opts for food while buying ticket, the catering charge will be included in the fare, unlike Shatabdi.
• Tejas is semi-high speed train and can touch a maximum speed of 200 kmph. Meanwhile, Shatabdi has a speed limit of 155 kmph.
• Tejas has been initially planned between Mumbai and Goa and will be open for Delhi-Chandigarh and Delhi-Lucknow soon. Tejas will operate between Mumbai and Goa for five days a week, and three days a week during the monsoon.
Shatabdi is operated on 26 pairs by the Indian railways and runs every day.
BW Reporters
The author is a correspondent with BW Businessworld with keen interest in HR and employee welfare.
