India’s First Semi-High Speed Train Gatimaan Express Flagged off

Gatimaan Express ready to be flagged off. (Photo Courtesy: ANI)

The country’s first semi-high speed train – Gatimaan Express – was flagged off by Railways Minister Suresh Prabhu on Tuesday.

The new express train will operate between the national capital’s Hazrat Nizamuddin station and Agra Cantonment station, six days a week, except on Friday.

The new express train can attain a maximum speed of 160 km per hour, according to the Ministry of Railways.

The launch of this train heralds a new era of high-speed rail travel in India. Railway Minister has been emphasising about increasing the speed of both passenger and goods trains in his budget speeches. 

<b>Excerpt From Indian Railways’ Statement</b>

Key Features

• It comprises two executive AC chair cars and eight AC chair car coaches.
  
• The fare for a single AC chair car seat will be Rs 750, and that for the executive AC chair car seat Rs 1,500.
  
• The onboard catering will be carried out by the Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), with options for different cuisines, served by train hostesses.
  
• The new train will provide free onboard entertainment by a private agency – MyFreeTv.in.
  
• The ministry claims the trains have bio-toilets and are fit to run at 160 km per hour.
  
• The train features new LHB (Linke-Hofmann-Busch) coaches manufactured by Rail Coach Factory (RCF), Kapurthala.
  
• These coaches have also been fitted with balanced draft gear couplers for a smooth ride.
  

(With inputs from IANS.)

Also read: The Gatimaan Express: 10 Things You Should Know