The country’s first futuristic high-speed train Tejas Express, which can travel a speed of up to 200 km per hour on Monday embarked upon its maiden journey between Mumbai and Goa, a distance of 579 km that will be covered in just 8.5 hours.
The train was flagged off from Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus by Union Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu via video conferencing and will reach its final destination Karmali, North Goa, with halts at Dadar, Thane, Panvel, Ratnagiri and Kudal.
Here are some of the highlights of the superfast train:
* The train is equipped with CCTV cameras, smoke and fire detection system, bio- vacuum toilets and GPS-based passenger information display system.
* The coaches have reclining seats with LED screens, touch control system, call bell facilities, and automatic entrance door, a first in a non- suburban train in Indian Railways.
* There will be tea and coffee vending machines and snack tables in every coach.
* Tejas Express will soon be pressed into service on the Delhi-Chandigarh, Delhi-Lucknow routes as well.
* The executive class fare in Tejas is Rs.2,740 with food and Rs.2,585 without food, while the chair car ticket can be bought for Rs.1,310 with meals and Rs.1,185 without them.
* The fares for monsoon and non-monsoon seasons will be different and Tejas will run three days a week during monsoons and five days a week in the non-monsoon season.
* India's first premium train will run at an average speed of 130kmph.
* Manufactured at the Rail Coach Factory in Kapurthala, the train will be wrapped in graffiti proof, vinyl in a bright yellow and orange colour theme.
* The 20 coach train will have one executive AC chair car with 56 seats and 12 AC chair cars with 78 seats in each coach.
* Tejas Express has also got Braille assistance installed for visually challenged passengers.