First high speed train in India runs from March 2016
New Delhi, India: Indian Railways has approved budget for its first high speed train that will run at a speed of 160 kmph between Delhi and Agra Gatiman.
Target market of this train is international and domestic tourism in India. Manned with hostesses, Gatiman Express train will have a high-power emergency braking system, automatic fire alarm, GPS-based passenger information system and sliding doors in the coaches. There will also be live TV service as part of infotainment. According to Railway sources, the fare will be 25 per cent higher than normal trains on same route. Both Indian and continental cuisine will be served and Passengers will have an assortment of food to choose from.
“We are trying to provide best possible services in Gatiman matching the flight services,” said a senior Railway Ministry official.
Like flights, there would be hostesses on the train and catering will also match the standard of airliners, he said.
The fare fully air-conditioned Gatiman Express has been fixed at Rs. 690, while a passenger will be required to spend Rs. 1,365 for travelling Executive Class. In Delhi-Agra Shatabadi Express, the chair car fare is Rs. 540 and Rs. 1,040 for Executive Class.
Equipped with a 5,400 HP electric locomotive, the train will have 12 coaches. While Shatabdi takes 120 minutes to cover the 200 km distance, Gatiman Express proposes to complete the journey in 105 minutes.
Indian Railway plans to roll out such trains on 9 more routes including Kanpur-Delhi, Chandigarh-Delhi, Hyderabad-Chennai, Nagpur-Bilaspur, Goa-Mumbai and Nagpur-Secunderabad.
