RailEnquiry

NASHIK: A new air conditioned train on the central railway along the lines of Rajdhani Express is in the offing between Mumbai and Delhi via Nashik. Though the train will not be called Rajdhani Express, but it will have the speed and facilities on par with Rajdhani.

A proposal submitted by the Central Railway general manager Subodh Jain is under consideration by the railway board.

"There was a strong demand for Rajdhani on the central railway route as it would connect people of north Maharashtra with New Delhi. Though railway board has clearly rejected the proposal for a Rajdhani Express, but it has assured that a train with similar facilities, speed and commercial norms would be started on the route and the passengers would be charged the rate of super fast train," said Subodh Jain.

According to the proposal that was discussed in the railway board meeting on Tuesday, the train would leave Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (LTT), Kurla, at 1.30 pm and would reach Nashik at 4.30 pm, Manmad at around 5.30 pm after which there will be only operational halts. The train will reach Nizamuddin Station at 9.30 am the following day.

"The 20 hour proposed travel route will help passengers in Mumbai, Nashik and those travelling from Shirdi and others areas," the general manager said. He further added that a parallel train would start from Nizamuddin and reach Nashik at 6.30 am before reaching LTT at 9.30 am.

The operational halts will be at Bhusawal, Itarsi and the commercial halts will be at Gwalior, Agra, Mathura before reaching the final destination.

According to Jain, the members of parliament from Thane, Kalyan and Nashik have been stressing for the same for a long time.

Member traffic A K Srivastav and additional member traffic B P Pande have consented to the demand and the new train is likely to be included in the forthcoming budget.

The air-conditioned train will have same German coaches, pantry cars, motor vans etc and all other facilities like Rajdhani Express.

"If Rajdhani is not running, then the railways are likely to carve out a new category of travel. Possibly, there are areas where Rajdhani-like facility is required but for the fare and hence the new category," another senior official said.