A double-decker train

By Japan K Pathak, 6 March, 2012

On 31st of this month, the present budget year will end.

This is the reason why, some much-awaited trains, declared in last railway budget by then Railway minister Mamata Banerjee, are going to be launched in next 25 days, before the present budget year ends.

Two very interesting and really much-awaited trains that are to be launched this month are; Ahmedabad-Pune AC Duronto train and Ahmedabad-Mumbai AC double decker train. While Ahmedabad-Pune Duronto(three days a week) will cut short the travelling time between Ahmedabad and Pune, the Ahmedabad-Mumbai AC double decker bus will be first of this type in Gujarat on Ahmedabad-Mumbai route.

Other trains that are likely to be launched this month are Bhuj-Palanpur passenger(daily), Porbandar-Kochuveli(weekly via Panvel, Madgav), Varanasi-Ahmedabad express(via Ajmer), Ahmedabad-Yesvantpur AC weekly express(via Hubli, Bijapur). These all trains were announced in last Railway budget.

Another important announcement in last Railway budget was about Janmabhoomi Gaurav train. As per the announcement, this train was to connect Mumbai-Ahmedabad-Lothal-Bhavnagar-Palitana-Alang-Gir-Diu-Somnath-Veraval-Junagadh-Rajkot-Mumbai, through its route, however there are no signs of launching of this train anytime soon. But as the budget year is ending this month, it is possible that this train too see the light of the day.

In last Railway budget, an announcement of making Ahmedabad-Mumbai AC Duronto train daily was made. However this train still runs three days a week. It is possible that the budget promise will be put in action this month. Similarly Rajkot-Porbandar express that runs three days a week will be operated daily.

The Railway budget of fiscal year 2012-13 will be presented on 14th of this month.

According to Shri Jitendrakumar Jayant, Western railway PRO based in Ahmedabad, the efforts are on to make functional all trains promised in last year’s Railway budget within this month.

Updates(on 9th March):

PTI quotes senior railway ministry official saying that the trial run of the AC double decker trains is yet to be undertaken. It can be launched only after getting certificate from Commissioner Railway Safety after the successful trial.

The Times of India, Pune writes: The Pune-Ahmedabad Duronto train will be a fully air-conditioned, with 10 passenger coaches, including seven III-tier, two II-tier and one I-tier coach. Barring some operational stops, the train will not halt on any station between Pune and Ahmedabad. The train will run every Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays from Pune at 9.45 pm and will reach Ahmedabad next day at 6.20 am. For return journey, the train will leave Ahmedabad on every Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays at 10.30 pm and will reach Pune at 7 am the next day. The train is likely to be flagged off from Pune on 11th of March.